DORSET has been battered overnight by heavy winds and rain which has felled trees and caused widespread disruption in the area. 

The Met Office warned of winds up to 60 mph as Storm Claudio rolled in between midnight and 8 am on Tuesday morning. 

Reports of fallen trees including this one at Lanehouse Rocks Road at 1 am have caused disruption across the county. This road fortunately has now been cleared. 

Dorset Echo: Lanehouse Rocks Road was blocked overnight but is now cleared. Picture: Paul StockwellLanehouse Rocks Road was blocked overnight but is now cleared. Picture: Paul Stockwell (Image: Paul Stockwell)

Dorset Council provided a full update of the damage caused by the storm. A spokesperson said: "The damage was mainly, but not exclusively, in coastal regions – with Bridport, West Bay, Weymouth, Warmwell and Swanage taking the brunt of the storm.

"The damage further inland is much less than near the coast.  We are still counting and assessing the damage but over 50 trees were either blown totally over or blown part way over, which resulted in them having to be felled. Over 90% of the trees we have dealt with are privately owned."

Dorset Echo: A fallen tree at Warmwell. Picture: Dorset CouncilA fallen tree at Warmwell. Picture: Dorset Council (Image: Dorset Council)

Bournemouth News and Picture Service captured the waves crashing against Chesil Beach at Portland. 

Late on Monday evening fire crews were called to reports of a dangerous structure in Swanage, a statement from the Fire Service said: "On arrival, firefighters found a marquee suffering from the effects of the weather so dismantled it for safety reasons. 

"The stop messages came back at 12:49 am and they left the scene shortly after."

Dorset Echo: Darren Hawdon's daughters trampoline was dismantled in the winds despite sandbags in place to hold it downDarren Hawdon's daughters trampoline was dismantled in the winds despite sandbags in place to hold it down (Image: Paul Stockwell)

Weymouth Town Council has now issued a warning to the public to avoid areas of woodland following the winds. In a tweet, they said: "Following the high winds, our staff are out clearing debris in our parks and open spaces. 

"Please be careful and avoid our cemeteries and gardens with large tree stocks, such as Nothe, Radipole and Lodmoor, and Weymouth and Melcombe cemeteries."

Dorset Echo:

In West Bay, the heavy winds blew down a power line outside St John's Church causing disruption for 102 customers in the area. The outage was amended by 10am the National Grid confirmed.

Dorset Echo: Sue LeesSue Lees (Image: Sue Lees)

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