DORSET is set for another unsettled week of weather and is on alert for high winds today.

It follows a varied weekend of weather which saw downpours and sunshine.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind for the South West today including Dorset, which lasts until 9pm, and is warning the public to be prepared.

West to south westerly winds are expected to increase with gusts of 40-50mph expected.

A spokesman said: "Whilst already windy on Sunday, winds are expected to increase further during Monday, becoming very gusty with a risk of gales over exposed coasts and hills.

"The public should be aware of the potential for some minor disruption to outdoor activities and difficult driving conditions."

Summer seemed far away on Friday when the county was battered by heavy downpours and strong winds.

Travellers were hit with long delays on congested roads and there were reports of flooding on some routes around Dorchester.

Strong winds overnight on Friday led to a tree being was blown down across the Rodwell Trail in Weymouth.

Sam Wait from the Friends of the Rodwell Trail reported the obstruction, blocking the path between the platforms at the old Rodwell station, to the borough council on Saturday morning and it was cleared within an hour.

Mr Wait, who runs the cafe in Sandsfoot Castle Gardens said: "I came across the tree while I was riding into work on Saturday morning.

"I was told there had been some very high winds for a brief period in the middle of the night which must have brought the tree down.

"The council was very good and removed it quickly."

There was a respite on Saturday as sunshine returned – weather welcomed by organisers of summer events, including the popular Milton Abbas Street Fair which saw an estimated crowd of 7,000.

But downpours returned for the first half of yesterday as more wet weather swept in from the Atlantic.

It led to the cancellation of some community and sporting events.

It is likely to remain unsettled over the next few days and it will feel a lot cooler.