A BRIDPORT company has been singled out for special praise after helping to stem the tide during flooding.

West Dorset District Council staff sprang into action when torrential rain and rising river levels put dozens of homes at risk over the New Year period.

They supplied some 1,800 sandbags to residents in the worst affected areas, mostly around Martinstown and Dorchester.

But then they faced a crisis themselves - they ran out of sand.

And that's when sand and gravel merchants J C Phillips and Son Ltd of South Street, Bridport, came to the rescue. They opened up specifically on New Year's Day to provide two skip loads of fine builders' sand which the council bagged up to supply to the desperate home owners.

Boss Dave Weston, who runs the business with wife, Rachael, said they had been out looking at the floods when they returned home in the early afternoon to hear the call for help on their answerphone.

"The council said they had plenty of bags but no sand and all the quarries were shut. So we opened up and they brought down a skip from Dorchester to fill up. Then not long after we got home they called again - and came back with another skip."

Mr Weston, who was praised this week by the district council for his public-spirited actions, said he was pleased to be able to help out in the emergency.

Meanwhile the district council is urging people whose homes are at risk from flooding to consider buying sandbags - pointing out that their service is for emergencies only. Anyone in immediate need should call 01305 252295 in office hours or 01305 250365 out of office hours.