The threat of flooding remains in parts of Scotland as communities count the cost of the severe weather.

The Met Office has forecast heavy rain in southern Aberdeenshire, Tayside and Fife on Wednesday and more than 20 areas are at risk of flooding.

Meanwhile_,_ the Scottish Government has pledged to provide additional funding to help flood-hit councils recover from the extreme weather.

Nearly £4m was announced in December's draft budget for local authorities worst-affected by Storm Desmond and further funding will now be made available in the wake of Storm Frank.

Aberdeenshire Council said river levels in the area have peaked and are slowly falling but many people forced to leave their homes in Ballater and Aboyne remain in alternative accommodation.

Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Jim Savege said: "Despite the ongoing weather challenges we've made good steps forward with our partners in terms of carrying out repairs to re-open key transport routes.

"We've also been speaking with local businesses in Aboyne and Ballater to look at how we can support their recovery.

"We've had positive discussions with the Scottish Government over access to funding to help us progress repairs, and we will be having ongoing conversations about how we can help minimise flood risk in a number of communities in the future."

Work has begun to fix the Invercauld Bridge on the A93 at Braemar, which is expected to re-open in a fortnight.

The A93 at Micras remains unpassable following the collapse of a large section of the road and there are plans to have a temporary diversion in place within ten days, the council said.

In Fife the A91 was closed between Guardbridge and St Andrews due to flooding on the road. A diversion is in place via the B939.

Sara Wilson of the roads maintenance department at Fife Council said: "The council is doing everything we can and is working hard to resolve the flooding issue.

"Since early this morning our staff have been on site pumping out the water from the flooded area."

In Argyll and Bute, efforts are continuing to make the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful safe for travel, with specialist teams preparing to blast apart a 150-tonne boulder sitting above the carriageway.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received 350 calls about flooding and extreme weather between December 30 and January 5.