Police station hit by flood after torrential rainfall

Published on Friday 1 August 2008 19:51

A POLICE station and a complex for people with special needs were among several buildings evacuated in parts of Scotland as torrential rain caused serious flooding yesterday.

Homes, businesses and shops, plus the police station in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, were affected after the River Garnock burst its banks.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said they were bombarded with calls from 8am onwards reporting problems caused by heavy rain in the area. More than 30 firefighters were involved in rescue operations.

Residents of a housing complex for people with special needs were among those evacuated after the alarm was raised at around 7:50am.

Fire crews were called to Mill Court in Kilbirnie after water levels rose 1.5m and water entered several houses in the complex, where many residents are reliant on wheelchairs and some are severely disabled.

One resident was carried to safety while eight other residents were moved to the upper floor of their building. They were then moved to temporary accommodation.

Police said a number of roads in the Strathclyde area were also closed because of flooding.

Strathclyde Police said that officers from the flooded Kilbirnie police station could use other offices in the division if need be, but that they were currently out in the town responding to calls.