Lorry Blown Over Near Dorchester

A lorry driver has been rescued by fire crews after becoming trapped under the cab of his HGV in Dorset.

He had been thrown from the lorry when it was blown over by strong winds on the A37, near to the A356 Dorchester Road junction.

Station manager Andy Fox said:

''The weather today has been a real challenge to the service and the road users of Dorset. On this occasion, an articulated lorry was blown over and the driver was ejected from the cab by the force of the accident.

''This resulted in him being trapped underneath the cab by his arm. Crews used airbags to raise the lorry and hydraulic cutting equipment to cut the driver free.

''Due to the exceptional weather conditions three fire appliances had to be positioned to act as wind breaks to allow fire crews to work safely.''

One Land Rover driver had a miraculous escape when a tree branch landed on the roof of his vehicle causing a crash with another car on the A31, near Sturminster Marshall.

Hydraulic cutting equipment was used to release one motorist and he was flown to hospital by air ambulance. The other motorist was treated at the scene by medical staff.

Group manager Phil Allen, from Dorset Fire Service, said:

''Due to the torrential rain and high winds this morning, a branch came down onto a Land Rover on the A31.

''This in turn caused a collision between this vehicle and another. Crews worked very hard in this horrendous weather to ensure the casualty could be released carefully and as soon as possible.''

In Bournemouth trees fell onto overheard power lines on the Bloxworth Estate, causing power cuts. Fire crews also dealt with flooding at a branch of Tesco in Shaftesbury by lifting nearby manhole covers to take the water away from the shop entrance.