Dorchester councillors are calling for urgent action to sort out flooding problems on the town’s A35 bypass.

They claim the situation is getting worse and has now reached the stage where the road is dangerous.

Former mayor and recently-retired professional driver Cllr Tim Harries believes it is only a question of time before there is a fatality – unless something is done.

The road, a key strategic route to the and from the south west, frequently floods on both the west and east carriageways at the Stadium Roundabout; at the Monkey’s Jump roundabout; and at the junction to and from the Wareham road near the Trumpet Major pub.

The bypass was built on land owned by Prince Charles and his Duchy of Cornwall estate.

“It only takes a drop of rain for it to flood. Every time the Highways Agency does some work it gets worse, not better,” claimed Cllr Harries.

He claims that since remedial works were completed at the Stadium Roundabout six weeks ago the road has flooded more frequently.

Mayor Susie Hosford says apart from the obvious risk of drivers hitting standing water at speed the flooding also causes tailbacks which, in turn, increase the levels of air pollution from exhaust fumes.

“It really is about time it was sorted. It’s an absolute disgrace, quite appalling,” she said.

“We want people to use the bypass and avoid the town centre but this is putting them off.”

Local resident Mervyn Harris shares the councillors' concerns about the danger to drivers.

He said: “The soakaway must have worked once but has not in the four years I have used the junction from the bypass to the Wareham road.

“It's dangerous especially for motorbikes and cars."

Cllr Gerald Duke says the problems of standing water at Monkey's Jump goes back several years – reducing the road width from two to one lane on a regular basis.

He suggested that simply clearing out the drains more frequently and adding soakaways might be the cheapest and quickest solution.

Highways England has been working on the road in recent weeks – resurfacing the Stinsford Roundabout, the only junction on the road not to have a flooding problem, and repairing pot holes at various locations.

It admits that there has been problems but says that many of the difficulties have been caused by excessive rainfall, a claim which Cllr Harries disagrees with.

He claims it takes "half an inch of rain" for the road to be underwater.

In a statement the agency said: “Highways England is aware of some flooding issues during times of excessive rainfall and is currently working with its partners to carry our further drain clearance works to address the issue at one location, while work is underway to consider future options for Monkey's Jump roundabout.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused drivers during some particularly challenging weather conditions.”