Shetland escapes worst of rainfall

HEAVY rain over Shetland has caused minor flooding and at least one landslip that cut off 18 properties briefly on Sunday morning.

More than an inch of rain fell in 24 hours from Saturday afternoon, though Shetland has not been as badly affected by downpours as Orkney and the north of Scotland where the emergency services have been kept busy.

Around 7am the police were called when mud cascaded down Scrae Field and blocked the road into Wester Quarff, though it was soon cleared.

Around 2pm fire teams were called out to protect one commercial property in Lerwick’s Greenhead Base with sand bags after it was flooded.

Gales overnight made the problem worse, with rainfall measuring more than 30mm in places between Saturday and Sunday.

The heavy rain has brought back memories of previous landslides, including August last year when more than twice as much rain fell in half the time and loosed hundreds of tonnes of peat that almost washed away a house in Uradale, near Scalloway.

In Orkney drivers were being warned to take care as roads were flooded throughout the isles, and Shetland coastguard had to coordinate the rescue of sheep that had been caught in the Thurso river.

Inverness police have cautioned drivers throughout the highlands and islands to allow more time for their journeys and watch out for surface water.