'Horrendous' flooding following heavy rain in Dorset

As reported, Dorset was hit by more floods chaos following intense rain last Thursday.

Drivers were trapped in cars, homes and businesses were flooded and roads and rail lines damaged or blocked.

Two houses on Reap Lane, Southwell on Portland (pictured below) were among those affected - with the flood in Margaret O'Neil's home coming up to her knees.

The ground floor of these properties on Reap Lane flooded (Image: Geoff Moore)

She had to be carried out by her neighbours and stayed the night at a friend's house.

Margaret said: "It was so horrendous. It was coming in through the front door and the back.

"The road was like looking at the ocean. Cars trying to get home were stuck, it was terrible. Everything, everything flooded.

"It was up to my knees. I couldn't get out of the house because it was coming through the door. I had to be carried out so I could sleep at a friend's house."

She added: "I have been here 22 years and it has never happened. Everything is soaked. I have been here this morning with a dryer trying to dry it all out. We have been on our hands and knees cleaning it.

"I just hope that the local council will do something about the drains. I can't go through this again."

The flooding has damaged some of Margaret's sentimental items and ruined rugs.

Dorset Council workers could be seen working near the drain on Reap Lane (Image: Geoff Moore)

Her neighbour Hayden Francis also experienced flooding.

He said: "The water came in within 30 minutes of it being in the street. Very quickly up to about a foot of water.

"Me and another lad knocked next door to see if Margaret was alright. We arranged to get her out of the house. That is about all we could do.

"Now we have just got to replace the carpets and the sofa."

Meanwhile in Radipole, Weymouth, the River Wey burst its banks.

Resident Peter Smith said: "I have never known it to have so much rain as we have had in the past two or three months.

"It came up and went in the shed but not the house. We have had so much flooding here that we were well prepared."

Peter Smith, resident of Radipole Lane (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Fellow resident Robert Bray said: "We were all right but the drains were blocked. The worst part was the cars going past with the wash. We have lived here since 2000 and the past year has probably been the wettest we have ever had."