ALL Dorset Council schools have been advised to close tomorrow as a storm is set to batter the county tomorrow.

It is believed that all schools have been advised to close tomorrow amid news that Storm Eunice will hit Dorset, with an amber weather alert having been issued.

The fresh warning from the Met Office, which suggests gusts of up to 90mph could possibly be hitting the south west coast, will now be in force from 5am until 9pm on Friday, February 18.

Read more: Live updates ahead of Storm Eunice

The Met Office has said: "Extremely strong winds are expected to develop over southwest England early on Friday, before spreading north and east during the day.

"Inland wind gusts widely in the 60-70 mph range but up to 80 mph in a few places.

"Around coasts of west Wales and southwest England, gusts of 80 to 90 mph are possible. Winds are expected to ease across western areas through the afternoon, and eastern areas during the evening."

Schools across the county have already announced to parents and pupils that they will be following advice from the council and will be closed tomorrow.

The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester is one of the schools which has confirmed that it will be closed.

Headteacher Gary Spracklen said: “We had communication from Dorset Council to inform us that they had an advisory meeting and said that all schools were advised to close tomorrow.

“As a head teacher our first priority is the safety of our pupils. The school will be closed but we will be doing learning online.

“The reaction from our community has been very supportive and our pupils are used to learning from home.

Mr Spracklen said that he was concerned about damage which could be caused to the school, especially to some of their trees on the site, and said they would ‘batten down the hatches’ in preparation for the adverse weather.

A spokesperson from BCP Council said: "Schools have been told to offer a blended learning approach tomorrow, for example some school-based learning for key worker children/examination year groups if safe to do so and other children to learn remotely at home. This will support emergency services/NHS parents/other key worker parents.

"Or schools can switch to remote learning for the day if they feel that there will be insufficient staff in place for children to learn safely at school."