THE Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain, thunder, hail and possible flooding across the north of Dorset this afternoon.

The warning covers most of Dorset although Bournemouth and Poole look set to escape. The warning reads: "Scattered slow-moving thundery showers are expected to develop this afternoon, persisting into this evening.

"The public should be aware that these may result in difficult driving conditions due to localised surface water flooding, or hail on road surfaces.

"By no means all parts will catch them, but where they do occur they may be quite intense."