Alerts are now in place for west Dorset and amid fears of widespread flooding.

Read more: Large tidal surge alert issued for harbour

Read more: Drivers warned as main road flooded in both directions

The Environment Agency (EA) has this afternoon imposed an amber warning - meaning 'be prepared' - following persistent rainfall today, with further heavy rain and high waters forecast.

A large tidal surge is predicted to cause flooding on the west Dorset coast. Meanwhile river levels have risen at the Bridport Gundry river gauge, with risk of flooding on roads and farmland possible from 2.10pm today, the EA said.

Areas most at risk of river flooding are the Rivers Lim, Char, Winniford, Simene, Brit, Asker, Mangerton and Bride.

Coastal flooding is predicted for Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Seatown, West Bay, Bothenhampton, Burton Freshwater, Burton Bradstock, Cogdean Beach, Chesil Beach, West Fleet, East Fleet and Chiswell. 

Further persistent rainfall is forecast over the next 24 hours.

An EA spokesman said: "Please be careful along beaches, promenades and coastal footpaths and roads.

"River levels can rise very quickly in response to heavy rainfall. We are closely monitoring the situation - our incident response staff are checking defences.

"Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers which may be flooded and refer to local authority website for local road closures."