Advertisement
A historic chalk figure carved into the Dorset Hillside is disappearing because conservationists have been unable to keep up maintenance during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 320ft Osmington White Horse was carved more than 200 years ago in tribute to King George III, who often visited the town of Weymouth nearby.
The landmark requires yearly spraying and maintenance to stop weed growth and retain shape but, because of Covid-19, the work scheduled annually for March was cancelled in 2020. ‹ Slide me ›
The landmark image in Dorset has faded into the background of the hills due to lack of maintenance
The figure, which depicts King George III riding his charger Adonis, was cut into the hills in 1808 but today, just a faint outline can be seen.
For Sale and Sold signs (Picture: PA) NEW affordable home builds in Dorset this year could be below target – with some of the blame being put on the pandemic. Housing portfolio holder for Dorset Council, Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, says that despite the problem developers are trying to catch up and he hopes for another 200 affordable properties by the end of March. Lib Dem group leader Councillor Nick Ireland says any shortfall is a cause for concern and claims the target figure of 300 affordable homes a year across the county is not enough to make a dent in demand at a time when around 5,000 households are on the waiting list.