Dumfries and Galloway Council have said the recent spate of rain has caused the worse flooding in the area since 1990.

The observation came as large section of Scotland, like Paisley (pictured), faced disruption on Friday after heavy rainfall.

A spokesman from Dumfries and Galloway Council said: "Council chiefs met with emergency planning partners today to make sure they were ready for the weekend as the horrendous weather that swept across Dumfries and Galloway on Wednesday and Thursday gave workers a brief respite.

"In the worst flooding since 1990, council chief executive Gavin Stevenson praised staff and all partners for their valiant efforts in extreme conditions.

"Fire and rescue, police, SEPA, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the Ambulance Service and Scottish Water are key partners in the emergency operation that worked according to plan as the extent of the flooding turned from a prediction into a reality over the last 24 hours."

Earlier, it emerged a rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet, based at Prestwick, had to airlift an elderly woman motorist in Coldstream in Angus.

The 76-year-old woman's car was cut off in deep water at a T-junction, and she had called the emergency services to raise the alarm but both the police and firefighters could not reach her.

When the helicopter arrived at the scene at around 1.45am, they discovered her clinging to a barbed wire fence thigh-deep in water.
Train operator ScotRail said there had been some disruptions and delays on Friday of up to 20 minutes on the Glasgow Central to Edinburgh route, via Shotts, due to a landslide at Breich.

Thousands of sandbags were also given to householders in parts of Scotland on Friday to help stop flood water caused by heavy rain.

Water levels were starting to fall in the Scottish Borders, where the sandbags have been distributed, but forecasters said more rain would fall on Saturday across Scotland.

Visit STV's weather site for all the latest on the bad weather