A 60-year-old woman became trapped after her car got stuck in floodwater, with travel disruption across the county caused by heavy rainfall and flooding.

Three crews of firefighters were sent out to rescue the woman, who had mobility issues, after she became stuck in her vehicle in the ford at Aller Lane near Ansty.

Firefighters waded through the water to get the 60-year-old to safety at about 2pm yesterday.

A man was also rescued from a van in Cattistock in the morning after he became stuck.

Residents had been told that flooding would be “likely” as the Met Office issued a weather warning across the county.

A yellow weather warning, meaning people should prepare for disruption, forecast persistent rain in the south west.

The warning was in effect from 12pm yesterday and will remain until 6pm today, saying homes and businesses could be flooded.

Several roads across Dorset were completely flooded, with the A35 near Winterbourne Abbas being three-feet-deep in places.

The A35 was also flooded between the Stinsford Roundabout and Higher Bockhampton and there was reports of floodwater on the Dorchester Bypass.

Rail services were also disrupted, with flood water making the railway potentially unsafe between Yeovil, Salisbury and Weymouth. Great Western Railway had to arrange road transport to run between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth.

With bad weather likely to continue over the weekend, the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is keen that drivers recognise the dangers of surface water on the roads.

Area Manager Kathy Collis said: “Very often, surface water doesn’t appear very deep but there can be unseen dips in the road which then catch drivers unaware.

“While this wet weather continues, please drive to the conditions and be particularly cautious at fords, where water levels can rise a lot in a short space of time.”

If you are travelling through areas affected by flooding, follow this advice:

•    Wherever possible, don’t drive through standing water – as well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see.

•    If you see a sign to say that the road is closed due to flooding, remember the sign is there for a reason. Don’t try to drive through or you might get stuck.

•    If you are driving a larger vehicle, do not go through flood water at speed as this creates a ‘bow wave’ that can then cause flooding to other vehicles or adjacent properties. •    When driving, if heavy rain is making visibility difficult, pull over if possible.

•    Remember that roads will be slippery during wet conditions.

•    Don’t try and walk through floodwater that is above knee level, as the force of the water could easily knock you off your feet. There is also a danger of open manholes, trenches or other hazards that you can’t see.