A RESTAURANT next to Weymouth’s Radipole Lake where water levels rose after heavy rain escaped the flooding and remains open for business.

The Gurkha restaurant at the Swannery continues to welcome diners even though rising waters on Thursday prompted an emergency response involving firefighters pumping water from the lake into the inner harbour.

Borough council workers had also worked through the day draining water from the lake using the sluice gates at Westham Bridge.

Initial reports from the fire service suggested a local restaurant had flooded and it was reported in the Echo that the Gurkha had been hit.

But manager Dhan Gurung said although there was water around the front of the building, no floodwater had entered the premises and a high-level side access allows customers to get in safely.

More than 100 people enjoyed meals there on Thursday night following the heavy rain.

Mr Gurung said the only time the restaurant had flooded in its nine years of operation was in July this year when west Dorset was hit by a major deluge, forcing the business to close and undergo refurbishment.

He stressed the business had not closed this time and urged customers who had cancelled to rethink their plans.