Storm Frank: Heavy rainfall and flooding affects the region

As the stormy weather passes, flood alerts still remain in place across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.

Surface water has began to recede in yesterday's worst hit areas, Castle Douglas and Whitesands and power is gradually being restored.

Drivers are urged to take care in previously flooded areas as there is a risk of surface water and ice into the evening.

One flood warning remains in Cumbria for Keswick Campsite. There are currently 5 flood alerts still enforced in the Lake District area.

For the latest on flooding and closures in your area, visit the Environment Agency website:

Castle Douglas has been hit by flooding.

The volume of rain forced Carlingwark Loch to overflow, sending the additional water into River Dee which was already at full capacity.

The flooding has entered 6 properties with 19 other homes affected in the surrounding area.

The nearby Scottish Power substation has been submerged, leaving 50 properties without power until at least tomorrow.

A major incident was declared last night in Peebles as lives and properties were put at risk by Storm Frank. Residents wake up this morning to tackle what the flooding has left.

Scottish Borders Council staff and members of the public will meet at 9am at Edinburgh Road car park today to begin the clean up operation.

Police Scotland are advising that people with private properties in the following areas start to move possessions to higher levels and recommend evacuation:

• Whitesands Corridor
• Nith Place
• Kingholm Quay
• Kelton
• Glencaple

Scottish Borders Council have confirmed that 300 homes in Hawick are being evacuated, over concerns about the height of the River Teviot.

Some people in Peebles are also being advised to leave their homes.

Homes in the following areas of Hawick have been advised of the risk of flooding:

• Duke Street
• Mansfield area
• Noble Place
• Commercial Road
• Laidlaw Terrace
• Dovecot Street
• Teviot Crescent
• Teviot Road
• Sandbed

The Teviotdale Leisure Centre has been opened as a rest centre and residents who evacuate their homes are being directed there.

The River Nith in Dumfries has burst its banks as heavy rain and gales from Storm Frank batter parts of the UK.

The Whitesands part of the town has started to flood.

Thirty properties are being evacuated in Carsphairn, Dumfries & Galloway.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are attending with waterborne rescue, as the A713 remains inaccessible due to road flooding.

Heavy rainfall which began Tuesday evening will lead to flooding on the Whitesands today, beginning in mid-morning and possibly peaking around lunchtime, according to Dumfries & Galloway Council.

Levels are expected to be higher than the recent flooding at the beginning of December, and may be considerably higher due to the amount of rain falling on an already saturated catchment.

Flooding is due to begin around 11am today.

Flood levels will remain high for several hours after the peak, which will be around 1pm.

The flooding at Whitesands is predicted to exceed the events of 2009 and 2013, and potentially to exceed the 1982 level.

It is possible that Whitesands properties may need to be evacuated this morning,