Time for your jab

The company's Cold and Flu Scale estimates that more than six million people nationwide are currently suffering, an increase of 101 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Yet there are still many people in the community who have failed to take up the opportunity for a free flu vaccine.

Now the Department of Health is urging people: "Beat flu before it beats you - get vaccinated".

This year the World Health Organisation has warned of a possible influenza pandemic, so it is more important than ever for the elderly and vulnerable to be protected.

Dr Sue Bennett, consultant in health protection for Dorset and Somerset Health Authority, said: "Levels of flu in Dorset are low at the moment, but people often get it confused with colds and other upper respiratory tract infections, which are beginning to creep up now the weather is colder.

"Last year, the take-up for the flu vaccine in Dorset was about 60 per cent. We would like to see an increase to achieve the national target of 70 per cent in people aged 65 and over and those in the risk groups."

She added: "Vaccine is a highly effective way of protecting those groups from serious complications of flu, which can result in hospital admissions, as well as being highly unpleasant and even lethal."

Influenza is one of the oldest and most common diseases known to man and to date, no cure has been found. For most people the occasional bout leads to better long-term protection against the virus.

But for others - as Dr Bennett has pointed out - flu can actually kill. Every year, thousands of people across the UK die from illnesses that can be either fully or partly blamed on the complications of flu.

In 1918, a pandemic of Spanish flu killed an estimated 40 million people - more than died in World War One - and is thought to have infected half the world's population.

During 1989, the last official epidemic in the UK, 29,000 people died of flu-related illness. The possibility that this could happen again was demonstrated five years ago, when an outbreak in Hong Kong killed a third of infected patients.

The Beechams Cold and Flu Scale uses a weekly population source of 90,000 people from eight regions across the country. The figures are collected from pharmacies, schools, GP surgeries and major employers.

The Cold and Flu council commented: "By notifying people when they are more at risk from colds and flu, we allow them time to prepare and take precautionary measures for themselves and their families."

Your questions answered

What is flu? Flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, aching muscles, chestiness, a runny or stuffy nose together with a cough, sore throat and extreme fatigue. Unlike a cold, the symptoms usually appear suddenly and you are likely to lose your appetite. It can take up to two weeks to make a full recovery.

How do you get it? It is transmitted from person to person, usually through coughs and sneezes.

What should I do if I get flu? Stay at home, rest and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids. Symptoms can be relieved with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Many over-the-counter cold and flu remedies contain paracetamol so be careful not to exceed the maximum daily dosage.

Who should have the vaccine? Anyone over 65; with a chronic heart or respiratory condition - including asthma - or chronic kidney disease; people with diabetes; anyone with lowered immunity due to disease or treatment or any other serious medical condition.

How does it work? The vaccine contains ingredients from three different strains of inactivated flu virus grown in hens' eggs. A week to 10 days after injection, antibodies are created in the patient, protecting him or her against similar virus strains.

Is it safe? Yes. Reactions are very rare. Some people have a slightly sore arm for a few hours after being injected and a few develop a slight temperature, headache or aching muscles for a couple of days.

Who shouldn't have the vaccine? Anyone who is pregnant or has a serious allergy to hens' eggs. If in doubt, check with your GP.

When is the best time to be vaccinated? Now - don't wait for an epidemic. The vaccine is effective for up to a year.

Where can I get extra advice? Contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, see your pharmacist, or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

Historic tree facing chop after century

LANDMARK: The towering Monterey cypress tree outside St Mary's Church in South Baddesley

IT has dominated a New Forest village since the oldest residents were small children.

Generations of youngsters have grown up in the shadow of a huge Monterey cypress that dwarfs the local church.

Children on their way to the village school have skipped past the tree since the year Florence Nightingale died.

As the years rolled by the 100ft evergreen proved a comforting constant in an ever-changing world.

But South Baddesley, near Lymington, is about to lose the colossal conifer that has been part of village life for almost a century.

The local landmark has fallen victim to old age, leaving many of its heavy branches in a dangerous state.

Its disappearance will change the face of St Mary's Church, a picturesque place of worship that featured in a film by director Ken Russell.

The Monterey cypress was planted in 1910 to mark both the accession of King George V and the birth of an heir at nearby Pylewell Park.

Since then it has grown in leaps and bounds, making it one of the biggest trees in the Lymington area.

However, experts have warned villagers that the historic tree is now 80 per cent "in demise".

Churchwarden John Vernon said: "There could be serious consequences for road users and the churchyard if we left the tree for another winter.

"It's very sad to think it will soon be coming down after all these years.

"I recently spoke to a woman of 91 who remembered dancing around the tree when she was a little girl at South Baddesley School.

"We hope to get another tree to replace the one we are losing, but not the same sort and not in the same place."

Mr Vernon said the cypress had caused serious damage to the church wall.

He added: "It will cost £2,350 to remove, but we hope to recoup some of the money by asking for donations in return for free cypress logs."

Local tree surgeon Paul Lanyon is due to start work in the churchyard today.

New fight to improve life for youngster

NEW APPEAL: Mandy with son Jordan

Jenna Weekes

A MAMMOTH fund-raising effort has been launched to raise money for equipment to improve life at nursery school for a toddler with a rare medical condition.

Three-year-old Jordan White from Winton suffers from Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) which leaves him unable to sweat and prone to dangerous overheating. Dangers also include choking, chronic conjunctivitis and, if he overheats, the chance of a fit. This rare disease affects just 600 people in the UK.

He relies on air conditioning to keep his condition under control and though Social Services funded the equipment for his home last year, if he is to stay on at the Vernet nursery school in Bemister Road, Winton, air conditioning must be installed there too.

His mother Mandy said: "We became aware that more air conditioning was needed because the fan that was there was increasing the humidity in the room and making Jordan's illness worse.

"Jordan is a very placid boy, he loves going to school and everybody that meets him loves him."

Jordan's need for equipment at home to ease the symptoms of his disease was raised by the Echo in January last year and followed up by a national magazine. By June 2001 social services had provided funding for the air conditioning.

Now, with Jordan attending pre-school, his family has pledged to raise the money for air conditioning at his nursery.

"We've decided to raise the money for air conditioning ourselves and have organised a big tabletop sale," Mandy said.

The total cost of buying and installing air-conditioning is expected to be around £1,400 and if fund-raising beats that target a sensory wall in the

nursery will be fitted for all the children to benefit from.

Since Jordan's rare condition was diagnosed Mandy has set up the Jordan White fund to finance his care. She has also become a trustee on the ED Society and recently went to America to meet with experts on the disease.

Various local business have offered their support and Mandy is appealing to anyone who can help or donate items to contact her on 01202 775161.

Operators claiming bus passenger loss

By Robin Thompkins

BUS operators objecting to the continued closure of Christchurch High Street for the town's Monday market claim elderly and disabled passengers are being treated as second-class citizens.

Andrew Bryce, operations director of the Wilts and Dorset bus company, told the resumed public inquiry into the council's road closure order that passenger numbers had fallen by 12 per cent since the market moved into the High Street in July last year.

Faced with a long, difficult and dangerous walk from temporary bus stops on the opposite side of the busy dual carriageway bypass, many bus passengers were no longer coming in to the town on Mondays, said Mr Bryce.

And the resulting £36,000 loss of fares on routes operated without subsidy in Christchurch by Yellow Buses and Wilts & Dorset had already seen some loss-making evening services axed and others under threat.

But Mr Bryce said better operation of the market by the council would allow buses to operate safely in Christchurch High Street where the bus stops are the third busiest in the conurbation handling some 18 buses an hour.

He urged the presiding inspector to overturn or at least modify the council's proposal to make the 6am to 6pm bus ban in the High Street permanent when the current experimental closure order expires in mid-January.

Mr Bryce said the council's own research had shown dwindling public support for the shrinking market and the town's Chamber of Trade had supported the return of buses to the town centre.

And he said the continuation of the High Street closure went against national, regional and local policies, including the council's own local plan, for encouraging greater use of public transport.

Instead he suggested the return of buses to the High Street on Mondays should be trialled, even if only one way.

"There is an urgent need to undo some of the damage that has been done to public transport on Mondays," he said.

Presiding inspector, solicitor Chris Tipping, is expected to make his report shortly.

Residents take steps to improve estate life

Sharen Green

COMMUNITY spirit is being regenerated in a troubled area of Wimborne with calls for a multi-functional centre.

People on the Leigh Park estate are taking charge in an effort to improve their own quality of life.

Chairman of the residents' and tenants' association, John Burden, is calling for a community building which could be used by all ages.

"I feel the whole estate's crying out for a community centre for everybody," he said.

"Now a group of people have got together who are actually interested in the community and want to do something."

Vandalism, drugs and alcohol were the main problems with a ban on open air drinking in the town centre having a knock-on effect on the estate.

"We noticed more youngsters last summer coming down to the rec from Wimborne because there's no ban here," Mr Burden said.

Although Ferndown-based Inspector David Ayres had been "very helpful" it was rare to see a police officer on the beat, he said.

Mr Burden praised the work of Ken Goodman from Leigh Park Initiative who had improved his own area by planting flowers. The work had led to money coming forth for a herb garden project.

"They're really making a great difference," he said.

Mr Goodman said his group wanted a church in the community centre and others wanted a bar.

"There's no reason why we can't have both," he said.

"We want to revitalise the estate - it's just gone to seed, people have become very apathetic.

"There are nearly 1,000 people here.

"We have got nothing and we're trying to redress the balance and lift the spirit of the estate."

Town councillor Les Harvey said vandalism and drugs were an enormous problem.

"But the residents have been getting their act together and I compliment them for that," he said.

"They need a community centre and a youth drop-in centre.

"The town council is supportive of residents' efforts - they're doing a very good job."

Brewery 'pandas' to their every taste

SPECIAL TREAT: Second Wimborne Beavers Colony enjoyed making their favourite flavour of drink

Youngsters had a go at making their own soft drinks with the aid of a special high tech machine at a Dorset brewery.

Members of the Second Wimborne Beaver Colony were invited by Hall and Woodhouse at Blandford St Mary to call into its new visitors' centre and test out the "magic" machine which makes the brewery's famous Panda Pops fizzy drinks.

With its flashing lights, bright colours and big buttons it proved a sure-fire hit with the youngsters.

Jonathan Pike, seven, said: "It's really good because you can choose your favourite flavour - I did orange."

Brewery bosses hope the Panda Pops machine will prove to be a big crowd puller in their visitors' centre attraction.

Hotel deal is part of firm's new venture

BUSINESSMAN Richard Carr has snapped up another hotel.

Mr Carr's company Future 3000 bought the three-star Cadogan Hotel in Poole Road, Bournemouth, from a chain.

The move is the latest in a series of new ventures for Future 3000.

It recently bought the Salterns Hotel in Poole and Oyster Quays on Poole waterfront and has snapped up the site of the Poole Aquarium for accommodation and a restaurant.

It has also licensed its Slinky brand name to be used by a nightclub in Japan.

The company, originally known for the Opera House nightclub - now renamed the Royal Ballrooms - has been seeking to diversify.

Peter Gregory, chief executive of Future 3000, said there would not be major changes at the Cadogan. "Richard bought it seeing he thought it was a reasonable deal. It follows naturally from the purchase of the Salterns, something we're looking more and more to get involved in," he said.

The company had kept all the staff who wanted to stay with the 54-room hotel, he added.

"It's primarily a coaching hotel during the week with private guests during the weekends. We're running the business along the same lines," he said.

"It hasn't got beach or seafront views. It's very much a functional hotel from the point of view that it doesn't have gardens and a leisure centre. It's a basic, no frills hotel which provides people with accommodation very, very close to the town centre."

Organic farm pick of crop in top awards

NATURAL WINNER: George Heathcote and 15-month-old Vita

FARMER George Heathcote really knows his onions - and his sorrel, squash, and curly kale too.

The organic farm he runs near Lymington has just been judged the best of its kind in the country by experts from the Soil Association.

Warborne Farm at Portmore is this year's Top Mixed Producer in the Organic Food Awards 2002, beating more than 250 other farms all over Britain.

The accolade is a great boost for the family-run farm, where George's father and mother Michael and Victoria are among the 12-strong workforce and even toddler Vita can tell a marrow from a pumpkin.

The Heathcotes have a long tradition of organic farming - in 1949 George's grandfather was one of the earliest members of the Soil Association.

"Of course farming organic vegetables and meat was not a practical business option in those days," said George.

"And when I took over the farm in 1990 it was still run on orthodox lines. But I wasn't happy producing food like a factory."

Warborne Farm became organic in 1996, and now grows more than 300 vegetable varieties - from the common or garden to the exotic - and its box scheme supplies nearly 400 Lymington households with their meat and greens.

And with advice from local botanist Simon Frayne the Heathcotes are now branching out into organic fruit production, with peaches, giant blackberries and even kiwifruit on the menu for 2003.

"It's funny, we were disappointed at first when we learned we had come second - again - in the Box Scheme of the Year. But then the fax arrived saying we'd won Best Mixed Producer. That's the big one," said George.

The Organic Food Awards 2002 will be presented next month at London's Dorchester Hotel.

Police take bus in bid to improve confidence

HIGH PROFILE: Insp Nick Maton

DORSET Police is using an unusual form of advertising to promote its services - buses.

Large posters promoting the force and the work it does in the community are starting to appear on the back of the vehicles throughout the county.

They each bear the Dorset Police crest and a picture of a policeman with children, accompanied by the words: "Working with the community, for the community".

The four-week bus campaign is part of Dorset Police's reassurance strategy.

It is hoped that the posters placed at the rear of 30 Wilts and Dorset buses will reach a large number of people across the county.

The new advertising initiative is a first for the force and has proved successful in other areas of the country.

The force wants to reassure the public that officers provide a first class service in the county, responding promptly to often difficult incidents.

The campaign aims to keep the public informed of all the good work that is achieved throughout the force and how local police can be contacted.

The posters will appear on bus routes around the areas of Bournemouth, Poole, Swanage and Blandford as well as Weymouth and Bridport, and should reach the main population areas in the county.

Force crime prevention officer Insp Nick Maton said: "You cannot miss a bus. Their size dominates the high streets and their movement catches the eye.

"The ads will be placed at the rear of buses and set the profile of Dorset Police, promoting a friendly and approachable force to the local community in the county."

For more information about Dorset Police, look at the website at www.dorset.police.uk

The site includes details of local police sections, opening hours and contact telephone numbers.

It also has a brand new crime prevention village, 'Melford', which gives advice to the local community and businesses on alarms, home and commercial security and bogus callers.

Showcase for trust's talent

SOUND CHOICE: Luthier Tobias Chennell is a Prince's Trust success story

GROWTH INDUSTRY: Dried flower arranger Nicole Kershaw

DOZENS of local arts and crafts businesses launched through the Prince's Trust are banding together to stage an exhibition in Poole.

Bournemouth & Poole College's Study Gallery in North Road will host the two-day fair later this month.

It is being organised by the trust, which helps disadvantaged young people to launch their own firms.

"Dorset and South Wiltshire is one of the most successful areas (for the trust) in the country," said area manager Vivian Dunn, who is based at West Borough, Wimborne. "We will be starting more than 75 businesses this year, as well as helping many other individuals to achieve their full potential."

Local successes include professionally-qualified luthier Tobias Chennell who hand-crafts guitars, cellos and double basses costing from £500 to £3,000 and dried flower arranger Nicole Kershaw.

The Prince's Trust Dorset & South Wilts Area Art & Craft Fair will be held on November 12 (noon to 5pm) and November 13 (10am to 5pm). For more details, contact 01202 888845.