DORSET was battered by the first major storm of the winter with a sea wall destroyed by giant waves, trees and power lines blown down and lightning strikes causing damage.

And the county is on flood alert tomorrow (Monday) as a warning for heavy rain was issued by the Met Office.

Storm Angus, the first named storm of autumn 2016 swept across the county on Saturday night into Sunday bringing gusts of 70-80mph along with heavy rain.

Police warned of 'horrific' conditions on the roads with lots of standing water, and urged drivers to proceed with care and allow extra time for journeys.

Motorists were also urged to be on the alert for wind-driven debris as well as surface flooding following the storm.

Weymouth Beach was pounded by big waves which moved the beach around and created ledges of sand. Large amounts of seaweed were thrown up as well as pots, netting and other debris.

West Dorset, where there were flood warnings in place at high tide, came off relatively unscathed.

Locals at West Bay said there was some localised flooding on Saturday night and some big waves to be seen on Sunday morning.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

East Beach picture by Tracy Caden

Swanage felt the wrath of the storm as the sea wall was shattered and the high street flooded.

People were urged to stay away from the sea wall as police and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service issued a warning, with a cordon in place at the scene.

Swanage Fire Station said the wall was broken by the strength of the sea, causing flooding in the high street.

A spokesman for Swanage Fire Station urged people to avoid the area as the sea conditions were "very bad".

"The strength of the sea is so strong that it broke part of the sea wall apart. The lower end of the High Street, The Square and The Parade are closed off and should be avoided", they added.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Picture by Swanage Fire Station

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Dorset Police urge the public to stay away from the sea wall at Swanage where there is extensive flooding.

"Dorset Fire and Rescue Service have put a cordon in place and the public are asked to avoid putting themselves at risk by staying away from this area."

Seaweed had been strewn across the High Street following the storm, and shopkeepers had to clear their entrances of debris.

The fire service were also called to flooding on other roads in Swanage.

Meanwhile, a fire crew from Dorchester extinguished a fire at Martinstown around 1.40am caused by a tree falling over power lines on Lower Rew Lane.

Earlier at 11pm, two crews were alerted to reports of a lightning strike in Winterborne Herringston where an electricity pole had been hit. The incident was handed over to the electricity board, the brigade said.

SSEN said some homes in the DT2 (Dorchester area) were affected by a power cut due to the storm.

The storm also battered the coast around Studland, with trees uprooted close to the beach huts (picture below).

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

And a tree came down in Christchurch, knocking over the chimney stack on a house.

Flood alerts were also in place for West Dorset rivers including the Upper Frome and tributaries north of Dorchester where water levels were expected to rise.

Angus is the first named storm of autumn 2016. The Name Our Storms programme is co-ordinated by the Met Office and Met Éireann, the Irish met service. A pilot project began last year, and Storm Angus marks the first storm of the second year of the project.

For more information on preparing for winter check the Met Office Get Ready for Winter pages via metoffice.gov.uk

A NEW weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for Dorset on Monday.

The Met Office says heavy, persistent rain will spread across the South West, with the heaviest rain expected to reach this area early today.

There is likely to be a risk of flooding as the county has already taken a major soaking from Storm Angus.

Although the more persistent rain should clear in the afternoon, heavy and possibly thundery showers are likely to follow, according to the warning.

A spokesman said: "Please be prepared for further disruption to transport due to localised flooding, whilst flooding of homes and businesses is also possible."

The chief forecaster added: “Some 20-30mm of rain may fall in a 3-6 hour period in places, with as much as 40-60mm possible locally through the whole of Monday.

“The greatest risk of disruption due to flooding is expected to be across parts of south west England, Devon in particular, where the ground has been left very wet from Saturday night’s rain.”