Nursing home evacuated after flood

Rivers have burst their banks

Firefighters have evacuated a nursing home in north east Scotland after it was flooded.

A burn close to Drumdarroch Nursing Home at Insch, Aberdeenshire, burst its banks and 40 elderly residents were moved to a local hotel.

Grampian Fire Brigade said they were also dealing with other isolated incidents of flooding.

Parts of northern Scotland have been hit by torrential rain just days after the north east suffered its worst flooding for 180 years.

Roads have been flooded

Several roads have been closed in Aberdeenshire and the A95, near Keith, in Moray, gave way following a landslide.

A number of major rivers have burst their banks.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) said heavy rain has caused water levels to rise in parts of the River Isla and the River South Esk.

Heavy rain and high tides caused devastation in Moray and Elgin over the weekend and about 200 people were forced from their homes into temporary accommodation.

Sepa urged caution around the River South Esk from Cortachy to the Bridge of Dun including Brechin and around the River Isla from Bridge of Ruthven to the River Tay.

The North Esk burst its banks at Marykirk during the night but there was no risk to homes.

National strategy

Forecasters anticipate heavy rain will continue to blight the area with two inches predicted overnight on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall is likely to continue through Friday and Saturday.

In the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, First Minister Jack McConnell announced that Moray Council would receive emergency funding from the Scottish Executive following the Elgin floods.

Mr McConnell said the damage was so severe that it warranted extra financial aid.

The Scottish Executive came under fire on Wednesday for refusing to draw up a national action plan.

The criticism came on the same day that a hard-hitting report branded flood management in Scotland as "backward and irresponsible".

Dr Rebecca Wills, WWF Scotland's freshwater policy officer, said: "We need a whole new approach to dealing with floods.

"We need to work with nature to reduce the damage caused by flooding and we need a national strategy."