RAIN is set to lash the county this weekend with trees at risk of being blown over by gale force winds reaching up to 50mph.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning yesterday with persistent rain expected to see the already sodden ground and waterlogged flood plains being further drenched.

Forecasters are warning of possible flash flooding on roads with trees at a higher risk due to the direction of the strong winds.

Dan Williams, from the Met Office, said “persistent” rain was expected to start falling tonight and will continue tomorrow.

He said: “It could get heavy at times.

“We could see rainfall in the worst affected areas of between 30mm and 50mm.

“It could cause some flash flooding.”

Mr Williams said normally winds come from the South West and trees naturally build up a resistance to that.

“Because you’ve got winds coming from the opposite direction it could cause some problems of bringing some trees down,” he added.

Local football matches are under threat of being cancelled due to the rain.

And the British Heart Foundation’s 50-mile Dorset Bike Ride planned to set off from Wimborne on Sunday has been postponed due to the forecast.

Kinson resident Steve Griffiths lives near the River Stour. He has already seen the levels rise more than two feet above the decking he uses at his house to moor his dinghy.

“From the water being so shallow it’s now quite a sight as the river has flooded its banks,” he said.

Steve Woolard, coastal engineering manager at Christchurch council, said: “We are obviously aware of the rain coming across on Sunday and we’re keeping an eye on that.