Drivers have been warned to not ignore signs saying roads are closed as several routes are impassable due to flooding.

Three roads are currently closed due to flooding: Lower Road in Stalbridge, Mill Bridge in Marnhull and Fishey Lane in West Orchard.

Dorset Council's Trvael Dorset service said: "Please don't ignore road closed signs. You can put yourselves or others in danger if you become stranded in flood water and risk invalidating your insurance."

But as roads across Dorset were drenched by heavy rain last night and drivers were stranded in flash floods, the emergency services carried on as usual, helping people out.

Firefighters from Sherborne Fire Station were sent to standby at Sturminster Newton to provide cover at about 6pm last night.

On their way back to Sherborne, they came across a number of vehicles that had become stuck in flood water on Lower Road between Sturminster Newton and Stalbridge.

A spokesman for Sherborne Fire Station siad: "We came across a total of 8-9 cars that had driven through flood water not just on Lower Road.

"We stopped and ensured they were ok and had arranged help before leaving to check on other members of the public."

This video shows just how deep the water was in some places: