A motorist had to be towed out of a Weymouth ford after becoming stuck in high water.

The driver reportedly attempted to cross the ford from Littlemead, Upwey, and became stranded on the corner of Mill Street.

The incident took place on the evening of Monday, January 22.

The car was eventually towed to safety out of the water.

A nearby resident said it’s ‘quite rare’ for people to get stuck in the water now.

“It used to happen all the time in the early days of sat navs, where people would just assume the road carried straight on, but it's quite rare now.

“That said, you still get a fair amount of people in 4x4s or on trail bikes going through it, which would be all well and good were it not for the fragile ecosystem in there which is precariously clinging on to existence at the best of times.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service advises motorists not to drive through standing water.

A spokesman says: "As well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see, or it may be a lot deeper than you realise.

"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."

The service has issued further tips for motorists in wet conditions.

"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 adjacent properties.

"If you do break down in flooding, firefighters can only rescue you and anyone else in the vehicle. It is your responsibility to get the vehicle recovered.

"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."