A YELLOW warning for rain has been issued, as Dorset residents are urged to prepare for potential flooding.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain which will last from 2pm today until 7am tomorrow, with as much as 25 millimetres of rain expected to fall within one hour.

The weather forecaster has now issued a warning for thunderstorms which will be in place tomorrow from midday until 10pm.

Residents are warned there may be delays or cancellations to train and bus services and that spray and flooding will lead to difficult driving conditions and perhaps some road closures.

A spokesman for the weather forecaster said: "Persistent rain, heavy and possibly thundery at times, will move across southern and southwestern areas of England and parts of south Wales through Sunday afternoon, persisting into Monday morning, before easing.

"Between 20 and 40 mm is likely to fall quite widely across the area but a few places could see 60-80 mm over this period, including 15-25 mm within an hour. Such totals may cause travel disruption and some flooding."