Helicopter rescue at flooded farm as rain causes disruption

Seven people have been airlifted from a flooded farm in Dumfries and Galloway after torrential rain led to disruption in several parts of Scotland.

Four children were among those rescued by a Royal Navy helicopter after being trapped for about six hours at Nithside Farm near Closeburn.

Homes had earlier been evacuated at Kirkconnel, in Dumfries and Galloway, and New Cumnock in East Ayrshire.

Flooding also caused disruption on the rail network and several road closures.

Police in Dumfries and Galloway warned drivers not to travel unless it was "absolutely necessary".

While all the main trunk routes were said to be passable with care in the area, many minor routes were closed or disrupted and some cars were abandoned.

With more rain forecast on Tuesday morning, police said further flooding and disruption was possible.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had more than 30 flood warnings in place on Monday evening.

The seven people who were trapped upstairs at Nithside Farm - a father, four children under the age of eight and two holidaymakers - were rescued at about 19:00.

Two dogs were also rescued, and all those involved were said to be safe and well.

Elsewhere, heavy rain and winds of almost 80mph battered parts of Wales, affecting roads and train services.

Met Office amber "be prepared" warnings for parts of Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire have now been lifted but yellow "be aware" warnings remain in place for these areas and much of central and southern Scotland.

There is also a yellow warning for wind in Wales, north-west and north-east England, Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands, south-west England and London and the South East.

There are yellow warnings for rain in Wales, Northern Ireland and south-west England.

In Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway and parts of Ayrshire have been worst affected.

In the village of Carsphairn, in Dumfries and Galloway, residents described the conditions as some of the worst they had experienced in 40 years.

Police said major roads across the region were affected by flooding including the A74(M) at Greenhillstairs, the A76 at Kirkconnel and the A75 at various points.

About 40 houses in the St Conal's Square area of Kirkconnel were evacuated and a rest and welfare centre has been set up at the village's Miners Hall.

Police said the village of Moniaive was almost cut off at one point due to flooding on the A702, and a family had to be evacuated from a bungalow which was cut off by flood water.

Firefighters used rescue boats to assist with the evacuations.

Homes in Port Logan and Newton Stewart also had to be evacuated.

The Whitesands in Dumfries has flooded after the River Nith burst its banks. Electricity supply to this area has also been affected.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it had attended 55 incidents which involved flooding or water rescues in the Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway area between 08:00 GMT and 18:00 GMT on Monday.

One woman had to be rescued from a stranded car in Moffat.

A number of properties were evacuated in Dundee after a landslide.

Police Scotland said heavy rain had caused a wall to collapse at the rear of Gardner Street at about 16:00.

No-one was injured, but properties were evacuated as a precautionary measure and some roads were closed in the area.

Police Scotland said eight people had been evacuated from their homes in Mansefield Road in New Cumnock, and a further six homes were evacuated in the Leggate area.

Police, fire crews and staff from the council and Scottish Water and Scottish Gas remained at the scene.

In Glasgow, the M77 southbound entry slip was closed because of flooding at Junction 2 Barrhead Road.

Trains from London Euston station to Edinburgh and Glasgow were disrupted by flooding.

Virgin Trains said there were no services running between Carlisle and Carstairs, because of flooding between Lockerbie and Carstairs.