Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Police swamped after helping with flooding (From Dorset Echo)

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Police swamped after helping with flooding

1:30pm Monday 14th January 2013 in News

DORSET Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police spent much of Saturday dealing with flooding.

The fire service again warned motorists not to drive through floods and not to drive around road closed signs.

Early on Saturday morning fire crews helped the owner of two ponies stuck in three feet of running water at Pymore at Bridport get them to safety.

At 2pm, crews from Wareham, Dorchester and technical rescue teams from Weymouth were called to the A352 at East Knighton, after receiving reports of a car suck in flood water.

When the fire crews arrived they found that the car’s driver had managed to get to safety and no further action was needed.

Later that same afternoon two crews from Dorchester and the technical rescue teams from Weymouth were called to the West Stafford bypass.

A car was stuck in two to three feet of water. Crews help two people to safety A fire service spokesman said: “We would like to remind the public not to drive through any standing water as you can never be sure how deep it is.

“We would also ask drivers not to drive around road closed signs.”

Dorset Police closed roads but also issued safety advice to motorists and urged them to take care.

Chief Inspector Steve White said that the west of the county had been worst affected by the flooding on Saturday.

He said: “Drivers are asked to reduce their speed through standing water and to plan and take alternative routes.”