Dorset residents have been warned about potential flooding and travel disruption as heavy rains are forecast to batter the county today.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain, meaning to expect travel disruption, for today from 5pm onwards.

The Met Office has said that flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely, bus and train services will probably be affected with journey times taking longer and motorists will have to watch out for spray and flooding on roads.

A flood alert has also been issued for lower sections of the River Frome, with the government's flood information service saying: "River levels remain high at the Stinsford river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.

"Further rainfall that may be heavy at times is forecast during Wednesday afternoon and overnight into Thursday morning and we expect river levels to remain high.

"Areas most at risk are tributaries between Dorchester and Wareham. River levels can rise very quickly in response to heavy rainfall.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are checking defences. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses."