Pictures: Storm Ciarán brings floods and destruction to Dorset

The autumn storm also forced schools to close, trains to stop running and flooded out a coastal restaurant. 

The passing of Ciarán through one west Dorset village was even described as 'a mini tornado' by one resident, as homes were damaged and debris was strewn across the roads.  

Click into our interactive picture gallery above to see pictures of Storm Ciaran battering Dorset.

Crashing waves and high water levels wreaked havoc in Dorset.

Portland Beach Road was closed due to flooding with debris washed up covering the causeway for approximately six hours.

Further along the Dorset coast, residents of Freshwater Beach Holiday park were forced to evacuate their caravans and static homes.

Emergency workers remained at the park to check all visitors were safe as static homes were battered by winds.

Many schools were also closed including Atlantic Academy on Portland, Budmouth Academy In Chickerell, Wyvern School in Weymouth and the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester.

It was a miserable day for motorists with the A37 just north of Dorchester near Stratton closed northbound due to flooding. 

Rail commuters fared no better with disruption on South Western Railway services with no service between Weymouth and Bournemouth and a reduced service on to London Waterloo due to earlier flooding at Hinton Admiral.

Portland Household Recycling Centre in Easton was also forced to close due to high winds.

Staff at the Watch House Café at West Bay were left mopping up as their business was hit by flooding and forced to close.

The village of Loders was hit by what residents described as a 'mini tornado.'

Multiple homes were damaged and large amounts of debris had been strewn across the village.

One building had taken the full force and substantial damage had been caused to the thatched roof and gable end of the property and large trees were also uprooted

Check out our interactive gallery above for all the pictures.