Met office issues warning for Scottish Borders

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 11:19

SCOTLAND'S Border region is set to be hit with another spell of severe weather.

The Met office has issued a severe weather warning predicting heavy rain and high winds across Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Cumbria.

Up to three inches of rain are expected between 6am and midnight, and gusts of 65mph possible.

The fresh warnings come as the area starts to recover from flooding caused by heavy rain last week, which saw roads closed and power supplies disrupted when the River Nith burst its banks following the deluge.

The Whitesands area of Dumfries was badly hit and several homes were flooded in Ettrick and Yarrow in the Borders.

Yesterday engineers began carrying out inspections of all major structures over principal rivers in the affected areas of Dumfries and Galloway.

These include the bridges in Dumfries town centre, Shillahill near Lochmaben and also Langholm, all in Dumfriesshire.

Over the border structural engineers and military experts have been carrying out an urgent safety review of Cumbria's 1,800 bridges after policeman PC Bill Barker died when a bridge collapsed.

Dumfries and Galloway Police warned of further flooding in the region as the ground is already saturated and rivers are swollen.

They advised motorists to travel only if necessary.

Inspector Neil Hewitson, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: "We have seen the effects that heavy rain has had on our roads over the past week and we again warn motorists about the dangers of driving in these conditions.

"Spray from other vehicles and whipped up by these high winds will have the effect of reducing visibility.

"The added dangers of floods and roads affected by standing water make for dangerous driving conditions. The message is clear.

"Only travel if you really need to."

Police also advised businesses and householders to be vigilant and be aware that the situation could change quickly.