Flooding is expected in Dorset villages as the water level rises more than 100 metres above sea level.

According to the Environment Agency, the water level at the Kingston Russell borehole, which is in the west Dorset area, has risen to 117.11 metres above sea level.

As a result, flooding to properties from groundwater in the South Winterbourne Valley is now expected and the winterbourne, a stream which only flows after wet weather, will remain high for several days.

Nearby homeowners should ensure that pumps are operational and that other precautions such as airbrick covers, and flood boards are in place.

The Environment Agency also suggests that people should avoid driving through flood water as the bow wave will cause properties to flood and seriously damage the vehicles engine

If there is no alternative advice is to drive very slowly to minimise damage.

Further rainfall is expected at the beginning of next week which will keep water levels high.

A high-pressure system may bring a brief respite from flooding from about the November 15, which may provide an opportunity to replenish any property level resilience measures.

Villages in the flood warning area include Kingston Russell, Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton, Martinstown or Winterbourne St Martin, Winterbourne Monkton, Winterbourne Herringston and Winterbourne Came.

Elsewhere in Dorset, groundwater flood alerts have also been issued following the levels rising at the Kingston Russell borehole.

This includes areas such as: Bridport, Chideock, Martinstown, Milborne St. Andrew, Nottington, Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide, Upwey, Winterborne Abbas, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Steepleton, Winterborne Stickland, Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Zelston.

The Environment Agency expressed that more westerly communities on the Chalk in Dorset, including those along the South Winterbourne Valley, Beaminster and Hooke will start to experience issues with septic tanks and roads may become flooded.

Levels are expected to continue rising until at least the end of next week.

If you have property flood resilience measures such as pumps, air brick covers or flood barriers, you should consider putting them in place now.