HOMEOWNERS and motorists watched in horror as their communities were swamped by torrents of water.

Maiden Newton, Upwey, Weymouth’s Park District and Burton Bradstock were among the areas most badly hit.

Many readers emailed pictures to the Dorset Echo showing the floods near their homes.

George McCabe captured a picture of the waters at Littlemoor in Weymouth where he said an overflow had become blocked.

George also took pictures of the waters around the sculptures at Littlemoor, as did Emma Lewis and Philip Redford.

Chris Warran was among those sending in images of the worst of the flooding at Burton Bradstock where the road was submerged by several feet of water.

He said that a farmer was trying to reach his sheep in nearby fields and that all traffic was turning back.

Charlotte Foot captured some of the worst of the flooding at Nottington just outside Weymouth. She said the village was submerged under a foot of water.

She said: “It rained almost consistently in Nottington all day, with a short reprieve for just over an hour late Saturday afternoon.

“Residents in the village had as much as 60cm of water flood their homes.”

Catherine Brown got pictures of the flooding in the Park district.

She said: “The water came up to my calves, just below my knees.

“I spent five hours helping people get water out of their houses, elderly people to warmer or safer houses and running between the Park district and the beach to get sand for plastic bags to create sand bags so that the water doesn’t get in any more.”

Derrick Foote said that a group of residents, friends and students staying in the Park District got together to help defend homes from rising flood water.

“They filled sand bags and provided help in every way possible to protect our properties,” he said.

“Special thanks to a man with a van who transported sandbags to the area and made a number of return journeys.”

Russell Brown also got pictures in the Park district.

Avril Alles-Cashman took pictures of the top of the steps at Chaplehay Heights.

John Hughes got pictures at Upwey and Andrew Williams and Adrian Clarke got some at Maiden Newton.

Mike and Viv Boisse, of Overbury Close in Weymouth, said that neighbours and firefighters helped stop the waters getting into homes. Mike Keene also captured images of the deluge. Others to send pictures included Andy Staple of Dorchester.

He took a picture of the burst river at back of Foundry Place. Andy said: “I have never seen it happen in my lifetime.”

Hazel Priest saw the waters rising at Marsh Road behind Asda in Weymouth, while Neil Corbett also captured images of the flooding in Dorchester.

Jordan Langridge was among those to see the carnage at Burton Bradstock as were Melaine Freeman, Graham Ross and Phil O’Neill.

The Lambert and Lynch Families told how the floods swept into the Gurkha restaurant when they were dining with family visiting from Australia.

They said: “Very quickly the high tide and rain caused the restaurant to flood unexpectedly.

“The manager said this was the first time in the 11 years he had been there that water had ever flooded inside to the restaurant building.

“Within a short space of time the exit was deep with water and the staff created a make-shift walkway from chairs and tables to ferry customers out to the car park. We would like to thank the two very kind ladies in wellies who helped us all get across.

“They said the road was full of debris underneath the water and so helped us one at a time to step across the chairs and tables to the path.

“They were very patient with us – all ages from 10 to 65 years old in our group. Our thanks to them and the restaurant staff who got us all across safely. It was an eventful evening.”