DRIVERS are being warned to take extra care on the roads after ice caused a series of crashes across Dorset this morning.

Police issued a warning for the Sherborne, Corfe Castle and Swanage areas, despite gritters being sent out across the district last night.

A Met Office severe weather warning for ice is in force until 11am this morning, with temperatures this evening forecast to drop to -2C in Bournemouth and -1C elsewhere in Dorset.

Warning signs are in place on the A350 and gritters have been sent out to the A351 at Corfe Castle after two accidents this morning.

Water running off Randalls Hill and freezing is thought to be the cause of an accident that partially blocked the road between the A350 Blandford Road North and Huntick Road at 8.17am.

A vehicle skidded off the road and went through a hedge, however the driver was able to drive off. The other vehicle involved was a blue Fiat Pinto registered to a Wimborne woman.

The drivers were said to be uninjured and the local authority was called to put out warning signs.

A gritter was called to the A351 at Afflington near Corfe Castle after a moped driver slid off the machine and suffered a slight injury.

Water had frozen on the road after running off the hills and the accident took place at 7.41am.

In Hinton Wood Avenue in Highcliffe, a car smashed into a telegraph pole splitting it in two.

The road was closed in both directions because the pole was leaning into the road and described as dangerous.

Emergency services were called at 7.54am and discovered one vehicle had been involved in the collision.