Ophelia brings power cuts and rail disruption to Scotland

WEATHER warnings remain in place for parts of Scotland after Storm Ophelia brought power cuts and disruption to the south of the country.

As winds swept in from Ireland, where three people died on Monday, Dumfries and Galloway bore the brunt of gusts up to 77mph.

The roof of a scout hut in Castle Douglas was blown off and more than 1,000 properties in the region lost power, but police said there were no reports of any injuries.

Rail services between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife and Perth have been suspended after a freight train is thought to have hit a tree on the line near Markinch.

Disruption is expected until midday, Scotrail said.

Services have also been hit between Glasgow and Edinburgh due to a branch hitting overhead power lines in Bellshill.

All major roads in the south west of the country remain open despite a number of fallen trees, while the Erskine, Clackmannanshire and Tay bridges have been closed to high-sided vehicles.

A number of west coast ferry services have also been cancelled and trains through Lockerbie and Lanark face disruption with debris blown on the track.

Police in Dumfries and Galloway said they had a “busy night”.

“In particular, calls relating to fallen trees blocking roads were prevalent and at this stage there are still a number of minor roads affected by fallen trees and branches, from Langholm and Moffat in the east of the region through to Stranraer and Portpatrick in the west”, a force spokesman said.

“At this time all major routes through the region are open. Police Scotland urge those heading out to work or on other business to still drive with care.

“A number of calls were received relating to structural damage across the region, such as roofs being blown off buildings in Castle Douglas and in Dumfries and scaffolding collapsing. At this time we have no reports of anyone being injured in the region.

“A number of homes in the region have remained without power overnight and efforts are under way to bring power back to those affected.

“In this regard communities are asked to check on those who might be described as vulnerable neighbours and, where safe to do so, to check on their welfare.”

Flood alerts are in place for west central Scotland, Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Bute and Dumfries and Galloway, and the Met Office has yellow weather warnings across the central belt until 3pm when calmer conditions are expected.

Forecaster Alex Deakin said: “The winds will continue to ease through the day but we still have our warnings in force and it will be very blustery across central parts.

“There are still showers to come in the far north of Scotland and one or two for Northern Ireland.

“The storm will continue to clear away into Scandinavia through the afternoon so winds will ease down.”