Flood alerts have been issued across Dorset following the heavy rain brought by Storm Ashley.

The Environment Agency have warned that flooding is possible in parts of the county today.

Groundwater levels have risen following heavy rain and are expected to continue to rise making the flooding of fields and roads possible, and where groundwater is near the surface, intense rainfall will lead to surface water flooding.

Residents are advised to prepare their property resilience measures and ensure that pumps are working where they have been installed.

However, although flooding of roads and low-lying land is possible, property flooding is not expected.

The flood alert area covers: Bridport, Chideock, Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide, Upwey, Winterborne Abbas, Winterborne Kingston, Martinstown, Milborne St. Andrew, Nottington, Winterborne Steepleton, Winterborne Stickland, Winterborne Whitechurch and Winterborne Zelston.

An additional flood alert has been put in place near the Lower Dorset Frome, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around tributaries between Dorchester and Wareham.

People are encouraged to avoid using low lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses.

Additionally, they are urged not to drive through floodwater as bow waves may affect adjacent properties and to stay away from floodwater as it contains hidden dangers such as open manhole covers, sewage and chemicals.