MOTORISTS faced traffic delays and power cuts as Dorset was battered by gale force wind and heavy rain.

High winds and the rain struck from late last night leaving heavy flooding, fallen trees and power cuts across the county.

A car got stuck in floodwater under the bridge at Stratton on the A37 early this morning, closing one lane during the busy rush-hour period.

Drivers were left in queuing traffic as traffic lights were put in place to allow cars around the obstruction.

A power failure near Stratton affected the pump on the A37 that deals with the surface water on the road.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said the power to the pump, which does not belong to them, failed in the early hours causing it to fail and the back-up generator also failed.

The spokesman said: “The water rose very quickly. We were on site by 6am - 15 minutes after the car was stuck. By 7.30pm we had closed the road north-bound and installed traffic lights.”

A county council mechanic went to service the generator and the pump was up and running by midday.

One motorist, who was stuck in the traffic jam on the A37 between Wrackleford and Stratton, said the traffic hardly moved.

He said: “I sat in the car for more than 30 minutes before doing a U-turn as the queue was virtually stationary.

“There were no diversion signs or flood signs.”

Almost 400 homes across Dorset were left without power due to the weather.

A spokesperson from Scottish and Southern Electric said that 130 customers in Weymouth, in Portesham and Langton Herring, had been left without power from 8.20am.

A further 265 homes in Charminster, Frampton and Stratton were also left without power.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and thank them for their patience this morning.”

Dorset County Council workers cleared a total of 24 trees that had fallen into the road overnight.

One tree fell on Old Castle Road completely blocking the Belle Vue Road junction and there were also fallen trees on Chickerell Hill, Wool, Bere Regis, Cerne Abbas, Turnworth, Portesham and Bridport.

Trains were also disrupted throughout the morning due to flooding at Hamworthy and Hinton Admiral, delaying passengers between Dorset and London by up to 40 minutes.

The Met Office is urging everyone to be on alert as temperatures fall.

Over the next few days, temperatures will fall to around -1 degrees on Sunday night and into Monday.

FIREFIGHTERS were called out to rescue a number of motorists who were left stranded when their cars were stuck in flood water.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service received several calls reporting a vehicle in flood water at East Orchard near Sturminster Newton this morning.

Technical Rescue Crews from Poole and crews from Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury attended the scene and two people were rescued from their vehicle which had become stranded in flood water up to their waist.

They were rescued by specialist rescue teams from Sturminster Newton and were taken to safety in an inflatable boat and left in the care of ambulance crews at just before 10am.

At around 4am the service was called to reports of a driver stuck in flood water in Corfe Mullen.

A spokesperson said: "Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public firstly, not to enter floodwater in their vehicle, especially if the road is already closed, and, secondly, if the water is non-moving and not too deep, to exit their vehicle and get themselves to a safe place and return when the water has dropped to recover the vehicle.

"Please do not expect the Fire Service to attend for vehicle recovery"

DORSET County Council has issued advice and travel tips for motorists in severe weather.

A spokesman said: “Make sure someone knows when you are leaving and when you aim to arrive and allow extra time for your journey “Make sure you are equipped with a mobile phone -but don't use it whilst driving, warm clothes and, in particularly snowy conditions, a spade if necessary “Prepare your car - make sure the battery is healthy, windows, mirrors and lights are clear, tyres have good tread levels and windscreen wipers are in good working order.”

The spokesman added that if driving in heavy rain and flood waters, drivers should be considerate to other road users.

He said: “If you come across flood water, don't drive through it if you are unsure of the depth.

“You could face a fine of £2,500, with the extra punishment of between three and nine penalty points if the police believe you were driving without reasonable consideration to other road users.”