A MAJOR clean-up operation was launched on Thursday after gale force winds and heavy rain caused flooding, uprooted trees and sparked a power failure.

In Swanage, several properties were left waterlogged as high tides and strong south-easterly winds combined forces.

Waves smashed through double-glazing and security shutters, causing flooding at Kays amusement arcade, and staff at the Peveril Inn spent yesterday mopping up after two inches of seawater flooded in.

Swanage fireman Phil Burridge said: "In 40 years I've never seen the sea come across the road like that. Rocks of four or five pounds in weight were being thrown up onto the road."

An anchor and half a rowing boat were thrown onto the High Street and council workers with trucks and a JCB spent Thursday clearing debris, seaweed and sand.

Andrew Earle, 33, who runs the Peveril Inn, said: "We've had waves coming up to the door before but never water rushing in. It was coming down the steps like a waterfall.

"The electric junction box just outside the door started smoking and sparking. The police shut the road off and we moved people upstairs."

A seafront amusement arcade's shutters were ripped off and the Waterfront Caf was also flooded.

Mr Earle said: "The patio was under six inches of water. Water was even coming up through the toilets."

In Poole, waves broke onto Shore Road, intermittently flooding the sides of the road from the junction with Banks Road to the Sandacres pub on the peninsula.

Sandbanks Road was also water-logged at the bottom of Evening Hill.

Poole Park boating lake was flooded and the park was closed to traffic overnight. There was also flooding at County Gates roundabout and West Street.

Roads and properties were swamped in low lying areas of Christchurch close to the River Stour, which burst its banks on Wednesday night.

The Old Mill tea rooms on Christchurch Quay was protected by sandbags as water spilled towards the window.

Tara Bullen, manager of The Boathouse on Christchurch Quay, said Environment Agency workers had put up flood gates outside the restaurant. Some customers had to rescue their cars from the rising tide.

Trees were blown down, blocking roads in Sherborne and Verwood, and there was a power failure for 6,000 customers in Blandford.

A Southern Electric spokesman said: "It was probably weather related. The network held up pretty well considering the atrocious conditions."

First published: October 29