A LORRY was blown over, trees were uprooted and power lines brought down as a violent storm battered Dorset.

There was chaos on the roads as carriageways were blocked by fallen trees, debris and even small boats blown off their moorings by near hurricane-force winds.

One small craft ended up in a bus stop after being blown off the beach at Ferrybridge, Weymouth.

Yesterday’s severe weather caused misery for the many people who returned to work after the Christmas holidays.

It reached a peak at mid-morning when the strongest gusts were felt on Portland – the maximum speed at Portland Port tipped 90mph.

The port was forced to suspend shipping operations and adverse conditions also led to the cancellation of Condor Ferries’ Weymouth services.

Rail services on the Weymouth-Waterloo line were thrown into chaos after a tree came down in the New Forest, blocking the line. Passengers faced lengthy delays as engineers worked to remove the obstruction.

Portland Coastguard said mariners adhered to weather warnings and stayed in port although a windsurfer had to be rescued by a lifeboat crew after getting into difficulty off the east Dorset coast.

Police were inundated with calls about trees blocking roads and debris strewn across carriageways.

Andy Fox from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “The weather has been a real challenge to the service and the road users of Dorset.”

The most serious collision happened on the A31 at the Roundhouse roundabout near Wimborne when gusts of more than 70mph caused a crash involving a family with children.

Emergency services said a branch came down onto a Land Rover causing it to collide with a Fiat car.

South Western Ambulance described conditions at the scene as ‘appalling’.

Firefighters freed the occupants from their vehicles and one man who was cut free was taken to hospital by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Another man and a woman were also taken to hospital and two children were treated at the roadside.

Incident commander for the fire service Phil Allen said: “Crews worked very hard in horrendous weather to ensure the casualty could be released carefully and as soon as possible.”

In the villages around Maiden Newton heavy rain turned roads into rivers and tree branches were blown into the road.

Dorset County Council workers had their work cut out clearing fallen trees.

In Dorchester they dealt with a tree that blew over in Weymouth Avenue opposite the L of A Car showroom.

Firefighters helped to clear out water from a branch of Tesco in Shaftesbury when the store flooded.

Incidents reported to Dorset Police included two trampolines blown across the A354 relief road in Weymouth and on to the railway line at Broadwey and a tree blocking the road outside the Red Lion at Winfrith.

Blocked roads caused by fallen trees were also reported in Weymouth, Crossways, Bere Regis, Chaldon Herring, Bovington, Cerne Abbas, Duntish and Beaminster.

One driver had a lucky escape when a tree came crashing down onto his Silver Honda CRV as he travelled along the B3081 near Sixpenny Handley.

Police said the vehicle sustained a “severe amount of damage” but the driver escaped uninjured.

Fallen power cables were reported in the Shaftesbury area and on the Bloxworth Estate in Bournemouth.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Colin Chapman said: “We also ask you not to make any unnecessary journeys in bad weather conditions.”

It was expected to be windy again today, although not as fierce as yesterday.