A SECOND weather warning for has been issued for Dorset, as the county prepares to be hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms - on top of a yellow weather warning for rain - which will be in place tomorrow from midday until 10pm.

The weather forecaster has already issued a weather warning for Dorset for rain, which begins at 2pm today and lasts until 7am tomorrow morning.

The thunderstorm warning, which covers the whole of the south of England, advises residents to take care when travelling, and warns there is a chance that some homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

A spokesman for the weather forecaster said: "Following clearance of overnight heavy rain, there is the potential for thundery downpours to develop across parts of southern England on Monday afternoon, lasting well into the evening.

"Where these form, they could prove to be slow-moving and produce large amounts of rainfall, with 20 to 30 mm falling within an hour and perhaps a few places seeing 50 to 60 mm in two to three hours. Lightning, hail and gusty winds may prove additional hazards in a few locations.

"Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.

"There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost."