That’s an ‘L’ of a way to learn to drive

THE Capital was hit by flash floods yesterday as a fortnight’s rain fell in just three hours.

The basement of the Usher Hall had to be pumped out by firefighters after it was left six inches deep in water following storms which brought hailstones, thunder and lightning to many parts of the city.

Fire crews attended the venue just after 3pm yesterday, although Festival organisers moved swiftly to say that last night’s classical music performances would go ahead as planned.

Other areas of the city hit by flash floods included Balcarres Street in Morningside, which was also hit by severe flooding in July last year, Slateford Road (pictured) and Colinton Mains. The bypass was also affected.

Residents across the city inundated the council with requests for sandbags to stem the flow of water.

A Met Office spokesman said forecasters were expecting up to 40mm of rain to fall in parts of Edinburgh over three hours – just below the 50mm that had fallen in the first two weeks of August.