A COASTER has been rescued in appalling weather conditions after dragging its anchor as a huge storm lashed the Dorset coast.

Winds gusting to more than 70mph caused problems for the Salina II, owned by seadog Rob Thorne, 58, who sold his Portland home to buy the 40-year-old vessel intending to load her with mercy aid and sail her to East Timor.

But he and the vessel hit trouble before his voyage began when Salina dragged her anchor in the Inner Anchorage after being caught in the teeth of a Force 9 gale.

Portland Port mounted a rescue operation and marketing manager Mike Davies said: "It was a very dangerous scenario. We were worried about people's safety on board and for any damage to the vessel and other shipping."

He said staff tried to radio the ship but got no response and a rescue operation was mounted to board the Salina and bring her safely alongside a berth.

Mr Davies said: "Initial attempts to board the coaster from a pilot cutter proved too dangerous due to gusting winds and a very rough sea.

"So the rescue crew transferred to the tug and were then successful in boarding the Salina II.

"By this time the ship was dragging faster, moving to deeper water and so becoming even less secure.

"The rescue crew managed to make fast sufficient lines from the tug to the coaster, which effectively tied the two ships together, and brought the coaster out of danger.

"Concerted efforts were required to recover the anchor chain and anchor before the two ships, powered solely by the tug, were able to make a slow passage to the safety of a sheltered berth."

HM Bark Endeavour, the replica of Captain Cook's ship which recently made a visit to Weymouth, was brought into Portland to take shelter from the storm.

Mr Davies said: "She was situated 20 miles south east of Portland en route from Portsmouth to Roscoff. There were a lot of inexperienced people on board and many of them were feeling ill because of the rough conditions, so her best way was to come into Portland."

Endeavour's captain Chris Blake confirmed that everyone was safe and was due to leave for Roscoff today but he said that the ship had suffered a severe loss.

He added: "A cradle holding a barrel containing $10,000 of high quality Australian wine split and the barrel went overboard. We got the barrel back but we lost the wine. It is terrible and we have the ship's flag at half mast."

Mountainous seas threatened to cut off Portland at one point yesterday afternoon as waves poured over Chesil Beach.

Police, who were monitoring the threat, were critical of foolhardy youths who had to be moved away from the danger area. One officer said: "In these conditions to go on to the beach was very dangerous and we would advise all onlookers viewing any storm to stay well away from any area which might be swept by waves."

The road remained open but Weymouth and Portland harbour manager Martyn Gallivan said council workers stood by overnight to monitor a second danger point at 4am today.

He added: "We have staff available 24 hours a day who are on hand if there is any need to close the road."

The storm caused chaos all over the county with buildings damaged, hundreds of homes plunged into darkness by power cuts and a spate of minor road accidents.

Drinkers at the Hogshead pub in Weymouth town centre watched as a barrel hanging outside was taken down. Supervisor Maria Gibbs said: "Recent weather has damaged the chains that the sign hangs from. One of them snapped so we had to call the police because it was hanging precariously on one side."

Up to 200 homes in Bovington were without electricity for almost two hours when overhead power lines came down, another 12 homes lost power after flying debris hit cables at Wareham and several more homes were blacked out in Holt near Wimborne.

Southern Electric spokesman Denis Kerby said 100 extra engineers and 50 extra call centre staff were brought in. He added: "We had a call at around 5.30pm to say homes were cut off and our engineers were out straight away to work on the power lines."

Storm debris smashed a glass roof in Cheap Street, Sherborne, and a window at the Cosy Caf on Portland.

A section of the Thornford to Yetminster road was flooded, the A352 was flooded near Charminster and traffic lights were knocked out at Middlemarsh on the A352 Sherborne to Dorchester road.

Trees blew over on the A352 Cerne Abbas to Sherborne road, the Bulbarrow road near Belchalwell, on to power lines at Lower Burton, near Dorchester, and on the Loders to Broken Cross road.