UPDATE with video: Rain sets in as Dorset prepares for severe storms with winds of up to 80mph - ferries cancelled, trains to run reduced services and tree down on A31

HEAVY persistent rain has started across Dorset as one of the worst storms in years heads for the area.

Forecasters predict gales and heavy rain on Sunday night into Monday.

The strongest winds are set to batter the area during the early hours of Monday.

The county has already experienced problems, with some roads seeing floods, including Branksome Chine and Durley Chine, on Sunday morning.

High winds felled a tree alongside the A31 in the New Forest on Sunday afternoon.

Police were forced to close one lane of the dual carriageway at the Rufus Stone turn off, around 3.30pm, to enable to the tree to be safely removed.

On Sunday lunchtime a large billboard was blown off a wall close to Marks and Spencer in Westbourne.

As the light faded on the first day of GMT, rain started to fall.

Now, South West Trains is advising passengers not to travel tomorrow.

It said it would be operating a significantly reduced timetable, with the majority of services not expected to run until at least 8am.

Across the network, trains will run at a maximum of 50mph as a safety measure in case of obstructions on the tracks.

This will result in extended journey times on services.

Some train services in the west of the South West Trains network, which will be first affected by the severe weather, will also operate at reduced speed from late on Sunday evening.

A spokesman for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance said: "Our advice to passengers is very clear: don't travel unless it is absolutely necessary.

"Weather forecasters have issued warnings of heavy rain and high winds over the next 24 hours and we expect the rail network to be affected by localised flooding, fallen trees and debris on the tracks."

The Daily Echo will be providing live updates from early on Monday morning. Readers can get involved by Tweeting information and pictures to @bournemouthecho or by emailing newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk.

Forecasters are continuing to predict that severe storms will hit Dorset on Sunday evening and into Monday, with warnings that the county could be battered by gusts of up to 80mph.

Its latest prediction for the wind's movements are below:

The storm warning from the Met Office includes an amber warning for strong wind from the early hours of Monday morning with persistent, heavy rain potentially causing some surface water flooding.

The latest warning predicts 20-40mm of rain could fall in six to nine hours on Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Strong winds have already hit the county, with a tree coming down in Branksome Park, and there have been heavy rain showers on Saturday and early on Sunday morning.

The Wimborne and Corfe Mullen areas experienced power cuts on Saturday night.

Condor Ferries has now cancelled all sailings from Poole and Weymouth on Sunday and Monday due to the forecast.

It has been good news for some, with watersports enthusiasts making the most of the strong winds.

The area has been put on Amber alert for wind, with a yellow alert for rain on Sunday.

A spokesperson said: “A very intense low pressure system is forecast to run north-eastwards across the country early on Monday, bringing the potential for an exceptionally windy spell of weather for southern parts of the UK.

“At the same time, persistent, heavy rain could cause some surface water flooding.

“The public should be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures, bringing disruption to transport and power supplies.

“There is the potential for gusts of 60-80 mph quite widely and locally over 80 mph, especially on exposed coasts, both in south-westerly winds ahead of the low centre and west to north-westerly winds behind it.”

Dorset Police is also reminding motorists to take care on the roads this weekend as forecasters issue a storm warning for the county.

They are urging drivers not to travel unless they have to, keep their distance from other vehicles, keep their speed down and leave extra time to get to their destination.

Should there be flooding on local roads, police are advising drivers to exercise caution when approaching standing water on the roads and not to take any risks driving through flood waters.

A spokesperson also added that garden furniture, wheelie bins and other objects should be secured.