An Aberdeenshire MSP has blasted the First Minister for failing to allocate money to stabilise local cliffs.

Residents living beneath Bervie Braes in Stonehaven were put on alert after the local authority issued a warning following torrential rain over the weekend.

MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Mike Rumbles says the situation could be as serious as the landslides seen in Pennan, Aberdeenshire two years ago.

Mr Rumbles said: “I wrote to the First Minister Alex Salmond two years ago asking for help and support with tax payers money for this as Aberdeenshire doesn’t have funds to do it.

“Mr Salmond has given £500,000 to a very similar situation in his constituency in Pennan and has so far refused to give any money at all to my constituency in Stonehaven.

“It isn’t right that the First Minister can use tax payer’s money in his own constituency but refuses to do it here.”

Aberdeenshire Council have previously asked Holyrood for £5.7million to stabilise the cliffs.

Mr Rumbles says he thinks the government should at least meet part of that cost.

The Braes are being regularly checked by Aberdeenshire Council engineers to ensure they do not become unstable.

Ian Balgowan, who has been a local resident for 55 years says its time for action to be taken.

He said: “They just seem to fill in the cracks. They’ve studied it for donkey’s years but where are all the studies? Why do they need more studies?

“If they spent that money on doing something…us poor residents must go to bed wondering if we’ll see morning.

“I know things are difficult financially but when it comes to people’s lives, is money a consideration?”

Shop owner Raymond Milne said: “The Braes are very much part of Stonehaven harbour, so if they were to go, I think it’d have a devastating effect on the whole town.

“People have spoken about it for years and years to try and get the Braes sorted out and making a few wee patch-up jobs isn’t the answer.”

In a statement issued to STV News, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government recognises the concerns expressed by Aberdeenshire Council about the stability of the slopes at Bervie Braes and is considering their approach for additional funding.”