North-east prepares for more bad weather with heavy rain forecast across Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perthshire

Parts of Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perthshire have had little respite since Storm Frank hit on December 30.

Swollen rivers are expected to rise again with forecasters warning there will be heavy and prolonged rain throughout Thursday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has 25 flood warnings in place and Environment Minister Aileen McLeod urged people to continue checking local forecasts and take appropriate precautions.

But with lower temperatures than last week it is thought the rain will fall as snow on higher ground, slowing the rush of water into already saturated land.

Richard Brown, Sepa head of hydrology, said: “We expect a number of rivers to reach levels as high as seen on Monday this week but it’s a variable picture. For example, the River Dee we do not expect to be as high but the Don may rise to the same level, it very much depends on the rainfall and when it clears.

“I suppose the one saving grace is that some rainfall at higher levels will be locked up as snow.

“The rivers will continue to rise and awareness is the best advice. As we’ve been hearing from forecasters the rain is going to stall over the north east again this afternoon and then begin to clear through the early hours.

“Everywhere, as we’ve been hearing, is completely saturated with farmland and roads flooded and that will take some time to subside especially with ongoing showers.”

Here's our Area of Concern map for today's flood outlook. pic.twitter.com/InxU2ntoxv

— SEPA (@ScottishEPA) January 7, 2016

The Met Office said: “Further heavy and prolonged rain is expected on Thursday across much of eastern Scotland.

“Given the earlier exceptionally wet weather, with high river levels and saturated ground, please be prepared for further surface water and river flooding, as well as disruption to transport.”

In Ballater – one of the worst hit areas last week – work has been continuing to save the 16th century Abergeldie Castle on the banks of the Dee that threatened to topple into the swollen river.

It was left perilously close to the water after severe weather saw land bordering the property swept away.

Stones have been added to the river to divert fast waters away from the land around the A-listed castle which is located by Crathie, next to the Queen’s Balmoral residence.

In Aberdeen, police said they had been encouraged by the response to an appeal for information on missing man Terence Kilbride, 48, who is thought to have been camping in the region.

Personal items belonging to Mr Kilbride, who is originally from Warrington, Cheshire, were found in the Bridge of Dee area of Aberdeen at the weekend.

Officers said they are investigating reports of potential sightings in the Bridge of Dee area and in Deeside.

In Argyll and Bute, efforts are under way to make the landslip-prone A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful safe for travel, after specialist teams blasted a 150-tonne boulder sitting around 175m above the carriageway.

Eddie Ross from road operators BEAR Scotland said: “We will continue the work to assess the slope on Thursday and will resume at first light.

“The continued patience of the public is very much appreciated by our team and we will continue to do all we can to get the A83 open as quickly and safely as possible.”