STRONG winds will hit Dorset on Wednesday, with a weather warning issued by the Met Office.

A yellow weather warning has been updated and is in place for Wednesday between 9am and midnight.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "A very unsettled spell of weather is expected, with strong winds, combined with widespread and in places heavy rain.

"Winds are expected to increase from the far southwest early on Wednesday, spreading northeast, with areas adjacent to the Irish Sea most exposed to the south to southeasterly wind.

"Wind gusts of 60 mph are expected, with a few more exposed locations seeing 70 mph gusts.

"Winds will also turn west to southwesterly across Northern Ireland and western Scotland later, transferring the main focus for strong winds here, then finally to northern Scotland through the evening.

"The strong winds will also bring some rough seas and large waves, with some coastal impacts possible. Winds will moderate across the south of the warning area by evening and then across remaining parts overnight."

The warning covers Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset.

The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for Swanage on Tuesday.

The alert, in action from high tide at 11.30am, remained in force for two hours.