TORRENTIAL rain caused flooding chaos in West Dorset on Sunday evening with police and firecrews busy responding to calls of stranded vehicles and flooded homes.

Several locations along the A356 Misterton to Maiden Newton road were flooded, as was the A3066 road out of Beaminster and parts of the village of Halstock.

Trees were reported blocking the road near Burton Bradstock and along the Dottery Road just outside Bridport.

A van driver collided with a fallen tree partially blocking the road between Bridport and Beaminster at Melplash with the driver of the white Peugeot van flagging down traffic after the accident. The driver had a lucky escape with no injuries after the tree went through the windscreen and damaged the bonnet.

Two vehicles were reported stuck in a flood in Hogshill Street, Beaminster, where about a foot of floodwater was reported. Water also went into one of the houses along the street.

Firecrews dispensed advice and helped pump out homes in the Beaminster and Corscombe areas using portable pumps.