THE effects of severe weather is being felt throughout Dorset.

The flood-prone West Stafford bypass remained closed while diggers were out at West Bay repairing East Beach after recent storms.

Warnings have also been issued that historic settlements at Seatown could end up falling in to the sea.

The West Stafford bypass has been flooded for most of the week but the county council said existing drainage seems to be in working order.

A spokesman added: “This leads us to believe that something has changed locally that is making the road flood on a more regular basis. We are investigating what this might be so we can make alterations or possibly install a new system that will cope with the new levels of flow.”

Meanwhile, ancient settlements on the west Dorset coastline will inevitably be lost, as the cliffs are battered by wind and rain.

One of Dorset’s earliest human settlements at Doghouse Hill near Seatown dates back more than 10,000 years, while a Bronze Age mound was last year uncovered right on the edge of a cliff. Important material is at risk of falling into the sea as more rocks fall along the Jurassic Coast.

Martin Papworth, National Trust regional archaeologist, said: “There is no evidence that any of these settlements were on the coast. They were at least a mile inland, but erosion has gradually pushed them closer to the edge.

“We have the expectation that it will be lost, bit by bit, and we won’t even really know what has gone.

“Over the years, we have done these local digs along the coast in west Dorset because we know that inevitably, we will lose it to the weather.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has been working at West Bay following the storms.

A spokesman said: “A significant proportion of shingle has moved from the top of the ridge down to the front beach slope.

“Up to 25 per cent of the volume of the ridge has been removed and in places the crest has been eaten back by up to 15 metres.”

The EA hopes the beach will be reinstated over the next 10 to 15 days, if conditions are favourable. People are being warned to stay clear of the machinery.