DOWNPOURS caused disruption across Dorset with some areas flooding for the third day running.

Bournemouth Central Gardens were closed off again after torrential rain swamped the vicinity. Bourne Stream burst its banks near Coy Pond leading to overflowing drains.

 

Engineers were called out to Colehill, Wimborne to deal with a fallen tree and power cables.

The authorities also dealt with a large tree that fell down and blocked the B3056 Beaulieu Road at Shepton Bridge and a fallen tree blocking Horton Road at Three Legged Cross.

Roads in and around Wimborne town centre were nearly impassable as a result of deep flooding in places, particularly Leigh Road and its junction with Brook Road. 

A Dorset County Council spokesperson said: "When we get rain as heavy as we’ve seen in such a short time the drainage system gets overwhelmed. Drains and outlets, which are normally sufficient for the task, are unable to deal with the influx of water.

"We've had teams out across the county making sure that drains in vulnearable places aren’t blocked, and the water will recede when it can. In the meantime we ask drivers to slow down when going through standing water - their bow waves can make the situation worse."

In Lymington, The Ship Inn has been forced to close its doors after its whole restaurant flooded. Team leader Danny Williams said: "It's been absolutely chucking it down and the drainage system couldn't cope.

"We've had to send staff home and close for the afternoon. It's been dreadful. But we're hoping we'll be able to re-open this evening."

The Met Office had issued a yellow "be aware" alert for severe weather which was initially valid from 9pm on Tuesday night until 5pm on Wednesday. The warning was lifted by 11.30am on Wednesday morning. 

 

Weather enthusiast Jim Smith said 64.6mm of rain had fallen since Saturday afternoon when the average for the whole of August is 51.8mm.

"The rain total has been on the high side as we've been right on this boundary of this battleground between a very warm continent and a cold Atlantic.

"Up until August 19 it has been quite a dry month, and then since the end of flying at the air festival on Saturday, it's been wet.

He added: "The forecast for the latter part of the bank holiday weekend is difficult to pin down because we've got this slack air pattern over us. The most you can say at this stage is it will be changeable."

As of 11.30am on Wednesday morning, the warning has now been lifted.

The forecast says there will be light rain until around 1pm with sunshine predicted for the remainder of the day before things turn cloudier later tonight.

Thursday is expected to be cloudy with highs of 17C and light showers between 4pm and 6pm.

Friday will see sunny intervals and highs of 18C by late afternoon.

Torrential rain brought flooding to Bournemouth town centre and dangerous conditions for drivers across the south on Monday.

Bournemouth's Upper and Lower Gardens were closed and police and local authorities warned drivers about excessive amounts of surface water on the roads and urged them to take care.

Dorset traffic officers said: "Remember your stopping distance is doubled on a wet road. Use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced."

A spokesman for Bournemouth council said main roads were unaffected but both he and his counterparts at neighbouring Borough of Poole asked residents to be careful in the adverse weather conditions.