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The increased risk of flooding has prompted a new study in Weymouth.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council is looking at how it can protect about 4,000 homes which are at risk of flooding in the next 20 years.

It hopes the study will help it understand more about the geology of groundwater and tide levels before building future flood defences.

The £300,000 study, funded by the Environment Agency, is expected to take about six weeks.

Ground investigations around Weymouth Harbour, Weymouth Esplanade and Weymouth town centre start on Monday.

The work will involve drilling 21 boreholes 10-13 metres deep. Ground water monitoring equipment will also be installed.

Councillor Ian Roebuck, who is responsible for environment and sustainability at the council, said: "It's not just that sea levels rise. With the climate warming the storms are more intense.

"These works are extremely important in identifying what strategies need to be put in place to ensure Weymouth can deal with rising sea levels."

The council said some drilling noise would be "unavoidable" and that temporary traffic managements measures might be put in place.