THE financial cost of the bad weather is becoming clear. Dorset County Council alone has spent more than £700,000 on weather-related highways problems since Christmas.

The longer term cost of repairs is estimated at around £7m – a huge commitment when local authorities are under pressure as never before.

The work going on to clear up and repair the battered county, especially in the past few days, has shown the very best of our communities, public services in general and local councils in particular; the outbursts of Christchurch council leader, Ray Nottage, the worst.