End of the road

Maurice Lennox, a driver for the Tesco home delivery service at Tower Park, Poole, was hauled to safety after he attempted to cross a fast-rising ford at East Holme on Monday evening.

Earlier the same evening, fire crews rescued three people after a group of vehicles became stranded in floodwaters near Sturminster Newton.

With further downpours forecast, emergency services are urging people to think twice about driving through flooded roads.

The water level at East Holme was approaching the five-foot mark following Monday's heavy rain.

As the Tesco van tried to cross the ford, it was quickly overwhelmed by the torrent, spun around and only saved from being washed further downstream by a footbridge.

Trish Lea, who lives next to the ford, ran to the bridge and helped the driver through the window of his cab.

She said: "The water was gushing in and the van was filling up. I was just glad I was there to help."

Yesterday local farmer Richard Wright used his tractor to heave the van back to the road, the latest in a string of vehicles he has pulled out of river water.

Tesco home shopping manager Natalie Thorne said Mr Lennox had recovered from his shock.

Police said farmers quite often helped with stranded vehicles during wet weather and issued advice for drivers crossing deep water.

"People are caught out by floods that can rise and fall very quickly," said a police spokesperson. "It is not always clear when entering standing water how deep it is and all motorists, particularly those using roads they don't know, should take extra care when there has been rain."

l A series of vehicles, including a police car and an ambulance, became stranded in deep water between Mappowder and Stoke Wake on Monday. In trying to assist a Vauxhall Corsa and a Vauxhall Astra, the emergency vehicles also became stuck, with two local farmers again coming to the rescue.

Fire and rescue crews worked with police and the two farmers to help two elderly men and one lady to safety.