GUSTS of high winds continued to cause destruction across the county.

Dorset Police were inundated with calls of fallen trees and power lines, causing major disruption to the roads and transport yesterday.

Weymouth weather recorder Bob Poots, pictured, said: “I’ve seen winds of up to 40 mph in Weymouth, which is not the highest we’ve had but it is still gale force.

“It has been gusting but was also quite pleasant with the sun shining and no rain.

“Things weren’t as bad as on Tuesday and the beginning of the week, but still enough to cause some problems, mostly in the north of the county.”

On Portland the winds were as high as 62mph, which ranks as force 10 or whole gale on the Beaufort wind scale. Many roads across Dorset were blocked yesterday morning by fallen trees, including the A3066 at Beaminster and a weather-related power cut affecting traffic lights in Blandford.

The A35 at Bridport was blocked by a fallen tree at 11.40am, causing traffic jams and delays.

Families were warned to evacuate their homes when part of a 40-foot tree smashed into a car in Colehill yesterday.

Steve Summer, 47, heard an “almighty bang” at around 6.30am as a branch broke off a leylandii conifer in a nearby property and crashed into his parked 4x4 in Marshfield.

In the coming days the Met Office predicts warmer temperatures and less windy conditions.