Severe warning as floods and high winds cause travel chaos

HEAVY rain and strong winds caused traffic delays and localised flooding across central and southern Scotland yesterday.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning, saying persistent and heavy rain could cause problems after a patch hit the country in late morning and early afternoon.

Transport Scotland advised motorists to drive with caution after the downpour led to patches of flooding on the M8 and the M74, while in Troon the local authority delivered sandbags after reports of overflowing drains.

Motorists on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll were told to be wary of a landslide.

In Glasgow, West Street subway station was closed to passengers for an hour because of flooding, although trains continued to run.

Problems were also reported at the Clyde Tunnel, with drivers facing delays.

High winds also caused problems, with speed restrictions on the Forth Road Bridge and the Tay Road Bridge and in parts of Perthshire, Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire and the Borders.

The bad weather disrupted CalMac sailings on the west coast, leading to cancellation of services from Oban to Colonsay, Port Askaig and Kennacraig and from Mallaig to Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna.

Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers said the next few days would be blustery with intermittent showers, with snow expected on the higher peaks in Grampian and the Cairngorms.