Clean up operation underway in west Dorset after storm chaos

Hive Beach was one of many areas that took a battering from the wind and rain throughout Wednesday night and Thursday, but the National Trust has been hard at work clearing up the damage.

National Trust workers were quick to start clearing up the debris (Image: Cynthia Justham)

Cynthia Justham lives on Beach Road and had waited for the weather to calm down before she and her husband headed down to see the damage that had been caused.

But with so many negative stories surrounding the stormy weather, she just wanted to share her positive experience whilst down on the beach.

HIve Beach scattered with 'dangerous debris' (Image: Cynthia Justham)

Cynthia Justham said: “After such a horrendous storm and the destruction, damage, inconvenience and misery it has caused for some people, I wanted to share something positive.

HIve Beach House had to be boarded up following Storm Ciaran (Image: Cynthia Justham)

“I was truly amazed to see these guys so quickly cleaning up dangerous debris from the beach, footpath and car park here at the beach, and truly wished to than them and the National Trust for such speedy action.

“We here so much negativity, it’s good to be positive and cherish and celebrate these moments.”

Debris scattered across the car park before the clear up began (Image: Claire Moore Instagram: @claire_moore_photos)

The stone wall that shelters the car park had been destroyed in parts with lots of the stone sprawled out across the car park.

Diggers were brought in to load the debris on to flatbed trucks. as National Trust workers cleared the damage up as quickly as possible.

Diggers were used to scoop up the stone debris (Image: Claire Moore Instagram: @claire_moore_photos)

The 'dangerous debris' had also been thrown all across the beach and footpaths and there were fears it could have caused harm to people as the rain and winds continued.

It included broken bit of wooden signs and gates as well as picnic benches and even the hull of a washed up boat was spotted resting up against the wall at the top of the beach.

Exposed winch at Hive Beach (Image: Cynthia Justham)

A winch which is still used by fisherman has also been left exposed after its stone casing was damaged.

Hive Beach House also suffered damaged from Storm Ciaran as the windows had to be boarded up and debris and rubbish was piled up to the side including fencing and fishing nets.