Flooding hits Dumfries and Galloway

Jul 20 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

Flooding hits Dumfries and Galloway

FLASH floods hit Dumfries and Galloway at the weekend.

Heavy rain fell at Moffat on Saturday leading to a build up of surface water on the A701 into the town.

Three cars broke down after attempting to drive through the deep pool, blocking the road briefly.

Rhona and Frank Duffy of Dalkeith were heading to Beattock to visit relatives when they ran into the flood.

Mr Duffy said: “There was a dip in the road and you could not tell how high the water was.

“I had been along the same route not long before and there was no water then. We went through the water at the same time as the other cars and immediately the car engine died. We were stranded there.”

He added: “We had to get out the cars to push them to safety and the water was over 50 centimetres high – over my knees. It was unbelievable.”

Meanwhile, staff at the Star Inn in Moffat used buckets to prevent water from the street entering the pub.

And the A701 was closed as the deluge covered the road between St Ann’s Bridge and Beattock on Sunday.

Diversions were put in place via Lockerbie until the road was re-opened on Monday morning.

A couple travelling south on the M74 escaped serious injury when their car hit the central reservation at Greenhillstairs near Moffat.

The 39-year-old male driver and his passenger, a 25-year-old woman, were slightly hurt in the crash.

Flooding also hit Castle Douglas as the A713 was covered with surface water on Sunday afternoon at 4.15pm.

And the A702 near Moniaive was affected by a mud slide.

A flood alert was issued for Dumfries and Galloway yesterday. Heavy and prolonged rain was forecast in the east of the region, resulting in an increased flood risk late yesterday and possibly today.