PRESTON Beach Road in Weymouth is being closed tonight due to the risk of tidal flooding.

The road will be closed from 8pm-midnight and also from 8am-midday tomorrow due to predicted severe weather hitting the coast.

Authorities are also monitoring and on standby to close the A354 Portland Beach Road tonight and again tomorrow morning.

The Environment Agency says high sea levels combined with strong winds and large waves will increase the risk of coastal flooding along the south west  coasts tonight and into Wednesday.

And after the wettest January on record in places, further widespread rain could cause river and surface water flooding into the weekend.

Severe flood warnings – which mean that there is danger to life – are likely to be issued along the Dorset coastline for the Wednesday morning high tide.

Train passengers will face disruption tomorrow as Weymouth-Waterloo operator South West Trains plans ahead for adverse weather conditions.

From 10am trains that normally run between London Waterloo and Weymouth will only run between Waterloo and Bournemouth. An hourly shuttle service will run between Bournemouth and Weymouth calling at all stations.

A speed restriction of 50mph could be imposed.

The company says it will be running trains throughout the night to ensure all routes are kept open for the start of service on Wednesday and additional response staff have been arranged to react to any line blockages.

A South West Trains spokesman said: “There may also be short notice changes to train services through the day.

“Customers are advised to check their journeys before travel.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience these changes will cause however they are necessary to ensure the safe running of trains during the poor weather.”