FLOOD VICTIMS said community spirit was the one good thing to come out of the flooding.

Many were forced to abandon their homes when the River Frome and the River Hooke burst their banks after heavy downpours.

Darren Watkins, of Dorchester Road, Maiden Newton who saw the ground floor of his family home ruined, said: “Nothing was safe – television, dishwasher, washing machine – all are ruined.

“When the water came up through the garden and met the water in the conservatory, that was it.”

The father-of-three, aged 37, said: “Everyone’s been amazing. We’ve had so many offers in the village to put us up.

“People have come by to help clear up – someone turned up with a flask of tea and flapjacks for all the helpers. There are wonderful people in this village – we all rallied together.”

Retained firefighter David Thorne, pictured, who worked throughout the weekend to assist flood victims throughout West Dorset, said: “We started at about 10am on Saturday.

“We went all over – from Bridport and Lyme Regis, around the west of the county and back to Maiden Newton.

“In total, we had about 12 call outs. Some of them were really bad.”