THE cost of flood clean-up work at Weymouth’s treasured nature reserves will be more than £100,000, it has been revealed.

Wildlife campaigners have launched an appeal to support the RSPB reserves as the cost of the disaster becomes clear.

Floodwaters damaged wildlife – and the RSPB’s new state-of-the-art Wild Weymouth Discovery Centre in the Swannery car park was swamped by a metre of water when Radipole Lake burst its banks following an intense bout of rain over the weekend of July 7 and 8.

The centre underwent a major refurbishment for the Olympics to become a dedicated information and advice point and reopened in May. Damage to the centre was so extensive that all the fittings will have to be ripped out.

Staff hope it will open again in time for the Olympics but admit it will contain basic displays as cameras and other equipment were destroyed.

As reported in the Echo last week, staff were counting the cost in the aftermath of the flooding.

Now it has been revealed the cost of the clear-up and repairs could rise above £100,000.

Dorset RSPB spokesman Rob Farrington said: “The team locally had never seen anything like this.

“With a high tide meeting a deluge the water had nowhere to go but up and within a relatively short space of time we’d suffered significant losses.”

He added: “We did what we could for the wildlife. The common tern colony at Lodmoor was saved thanks to the provision of floating inflatable mattresses that gave the young terns a safe roost.

“But there was nothing we could do for other wildlife on the reserve.

“And there was nothing we could do for the discovery centre as we watched months of hard work disappear – cameras, displays and much of the café equipment has been damaged beyond repair.”

Despite the disaster, the RSPB is remaining upbeat and has been overwhelmed by messages of support and offers of help.

Mr Farrington said: “With luck and hard work, we’ll re-open the centre in time for the Olympics, although it will be rather basic. We’re even hoping to put up temporary displays, including the story of the flood.”

He added: “It’s difficult to give a precise figure for how much this will all cost. Some of it may be covered by insurance, but an awful lot won’t. We’ll need to start almost from scratch with the discovery centre. Out on the reserve we don’t know fully yet the damage to the paths, the boardwalks, the kingfisher and sand martin banks and the hides.

“Our first estimates put the costs of the damage and repairs at around £100,000, but this is likely to rise. So, if people would like to help we’d be pleased to receive donations.”

To give to the RSPB Flood Appeal visit justgiving.com/rspbfloodfund l People can still visit the reserve but some areas are closed.

For more information contact 01305 773519.

Communities remain at risk

THE clean-up operation continues in Dorset after unprecedented flash flooding caused chaos in the county a week ago.

The worst affected areas were in west Dorset where almost 75 homes and businesses were flooded in villages.

Dorset County Council says highways staff were working to assess and fix roads and bridges.

As well as significant damage to Beaminster Tunnel, Rampisham Ford Footbridge was swept away and there has been landslips at Lyme Regis and Shipton Gorge.

The A35 between Dorchester and Bridport has been closed over the past week due to flooding.

There is a further risk of flooding in some parts of the county if showers become heavy and the Environment Agency is urging communities to be vigilant.

People have also been warned that there is a risk from flood water being contaminated in some areas.

Trading standards officers are also asking residents to be wary of door-to-door salesman offering to fix problems.