Dorset Council has advised all schools to close and has suspended many services for Friday as 100mph winds of Storm Eunice are predicted to hit the county.

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for wind, stating 'extremely strong winds' are likely.

All schools have been advised to close to staff and students.

Services which have been suspended include, and are not limited to, –

• Council transport, including school and social care

• Closure of day centres

• Closure of all household recycling centres (HRCs, or "the tip")

• Suspension of bin collections. Do not put your bins out for collection on Friday 18 February. We will attempt to collect rubbish on Saturday 19 February. Food waste will be emptied on your next collection day (Friday 25 February). We hope to collect missed recycling on Saturday 26 February. Garden and commercial waste customers will be contacted separately.

• Libraries and council owned buildings will be closed to the public

• Roads could be closed at short notice

• Durlston Country Park is closed and scheduled performances cancelled Any further service disruption due to the storm, which is scheduled to hit the Dorset Council area from 3am until 9am, will be posted here Cllr Graham Carr Jones, portfolio holder for housing, community safety and emergency planning, said: "The decision to suspend services has not been taken lightly and the priority is to prevent injury and loss of life. "The council has taken heed of the warnings from the Met Office, and due to their predictions of extremely strong wind, we have taken the precautionary decisions to suspend services and advise all schools close and children stay at home. "We have plans in place for scenarios such as this and we feel well prepared. Highways and arboricultural teams will be on stand-by throughout the weekend to deal with highways issues, fallen trees and debris on the roads. "Residents need to take precautions to make sure they safe and well until the storm passes." Residents are being advised to only travel if absolutely necessary and take measures to stay safe and should not go to watch the sea in coastal or clifftop locations. There are specific flood warnings from the Environment Agency issued for Lyme Regis, West Bay, Chiswell and Ferrybridge, Preston Beach Road and Swanage Bay in terms of tidal surge flooding.