The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which is behind the scheme, said it should significantly improve the provision of flooding information and protect vulnerable communities from the threat of flooding in high-risk areas.

Richard Lochhead, Scottish cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, was due to unveil the £1 million Scottish Government funded flood warning project for the rivers Dee, Don, Deveron and North Esk today (Tuesday), but it was switched on early, last Friday, in response to the bad weather.

The scheme will use rainfall and river level monitoring across the catchments to provide SEPA with information on flooding conditions.

This information will be used to alert the police and local authorities to any potential flood threat so that they can respond if necessary, and will provide advance warning of flooding to the public, accessible via SEPA's 24-hour Floodline information service.

The aim of the flood warning schemes is to help prevent loss of life and reduce the economic damage caused by floods. This is achieved through the ability to forecast likely flood conditions and provide interpretation and warnings to areas at risk, including urban centres such as Banff, Turriff and Huntly, rural settlements, large areas of agricultural land, and significant transportation links.

Mr Lochhead said on Friday: "In light of the heavy rain and snow affecting Scotland, I have asked SEPA to begin live testing immediately.

"Should the risk of flooding increase in the North-east, members of the public will now have more precious time to prepare and protect themselves and their properties.

"Flooding wreaks havoc and distress whenever it strikes, and we must do everything we can to protect ourselves from its devastating impact."

Richard Brown, SEPA's head of hydrology, said: "The aim of the flood warning schemes is to prevent loss of life and reduce the economic damage caused by floods. This is achieved through the ability to forecast likely flood conditions and provide interpretation and warnings to those at risk."

g.crawford@banffshire-journal.co.uk

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