Flood alert on major rivers as downpour continues

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 20:00

LARGE areas of Scotland were last night on flood alert as near record rains showed no sign of abating.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued warnings of rising water on the Clyde and the Tay, as well as several other rivers across the country.

In all, six official flood warnings were issued by the agency: for the entire Clyde from the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow to Gourock; for two stretches of the Earn in Perthshire; for the Teith at Callander in the Trossachs; for the Tay between Kenmore and Dunkeld; and for its tributary, the Isla.

Forecasters predicted more rain today in areas such as Perthshire and Argyll, where the ground is already saturated.

Their warnings – of more than an inch of rain in 24 hours across central Scotland – came as many rivers and streams were already close to breaking their banks.

Parts of southern Scotland saw record rainfall for November at the end of last week, causing the river Nith to burst its banks in Dumfries.

Just south of the Border, Cumbria suffered record rainfall last week, bringing devastation. Gordon Brown yesterday visited the region and promised 1 million to help rebuild vital infrastructure, including bridges swept away by what was described as "biblical" flooding.

He paid tribute to 44-year-old police officer Bill Barber, who died when a bridge collapsed as he tried to keep traffic from crossing it.