WEATHER warnings for rain have been issued for Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset in the run-up to Christmas.

There is a yellow warning in place for rain from 6pm on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.

Other warnings for wind from 6am on Monday until just before midnight on Christmas Eve and heavy rain from 6am on Monday until 12noon on Tuesday have also been issued.

The Met Office is expecting an area of heavy rain and strong winds to cross the UK from Friday afternoon and through Saturday.

About today, forecasters say: “A deep low pressure system is moving across the Atlantic, arriving into western parts of England and Wales during Friday afternoon.

"With mild air and strong winds some large rainfall totals are possible, particularly over high ground in south Wales and southwest England."

Regarding Monday’s warning, a spokesperson said: “An area of low pressure is expected to develop in the Atlantic on Sunday, deepening rapidly to pass just to the NW of the UK on Monday and into Tuesday.

"This will bring stormy conditions to the UK on Monday and Tuesday with the strongest winds likely along coastlines exposed to the south and west.

"Heavy rain is expected with this low pressure system and given recent wet conditions some flooding issues are possible.

"With such a rapid development there remains some uncertainty around the precise depth and track of this system, and hence the areas most likely to be affected by the strongest winds and heavy rain. This alert is likely to be updated in the coming days."