Sahara arrives in Dorchester (From Dorset Echo)

Sahara arrives in Dorchester

5:22pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

The saraha appears to have migrated to Dorchester.

Cars have been covered in a fine film of sand in the county town.

Avery Wheatley, who lives at Edgecombe Manor in Somerleigh Road, says he and fellow motorists had found their cars covered in sand that could have come all the way from the Sahara.

He said he had been out for lunch with his wife on Wednesday (March 6) and returned home to find his and other vehicles in the car park caked in a dusty coating.

On further inspection Mr Wheatley said he believed the substance to be sand and could only guess as to where it has come from, but had heard of deposits of sand from the Sahara landing in this country.

Last year there were several reports of sand from the Sahara being carried by winds and landing in the UK in areas such as Plymouth, Liverpool and Scotland.

Mr Wheatley said: “We went out for lunch and came back about 1pm and noticed the car.

“I have no idea where it came from and it's just a thin covering, it's not like an act of vandalism.”

He said he had no idea whether the sand had actually come from the Sahara but it was a possibility.

Mr Wheatley joked: “Of course it could just have come from Weymouth beach.

“But it's much superior to Weymouth sand.”

Have you experienced sand on your car? Contact the Dorset Echo by calling 01305 269801 or emailing harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk if you have had a similar experience or know where the sand might have come from.