By Democrat reporters

Heavy rain and strong winds are causing flooding and travel disruption  – and most people are content to stay in, and coorie in.

The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning for much of the south and west of the country for as the weather sweeps across the Irish Sea to Covid-blighted Scotland.

The A83 Rest and Be Thankful has been closed again and again and Scotrail has reported delays on a number of routes.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) confirmed 38 flood alerts and warnings were in place across the country.

Mark Franklin, Sepa’s flood duty manager, said: “Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across much of Scotland.

“Flooding impacts from rivers and surface water are widespread across much of the south west and west of Scotland, including Argyll, much of central Scotland and extending across Tayside into Angus and Aberdeenshire.

“Impacts may include flooding of land and roads, disruption to travel and difficult driving conditions.”

Mr Franklin added that spray and waves along the Solway coast, west coast, the Caithness, Sutherland and Moray coastlines and around the Orkney and Shetland Islands may also cause problems.

In Aberdeen the city council was distributing sandbags because of a risk of flooding in the Footdee area of the city.

Rail services at Queens Park in Glasgow were suspended for a time on Saturday after a trampoline blew onto the line.

ScotRail tweeted a picture of it jammed next to a train.

The A83 and the Old Military Road at the Rest and Be Thankful will remain closed for the time being due to “significant rainfall” .

An estimated 53mm of rain fell on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday, and a decision was taken to close the Old Military Road at around 08:20 after flooding in the area near the River Croe.

Traffic is being diverted via the usual standard diversion route on the A83, A82, A85 and A819 where additional patrols will be in place to help ensure the roads remain clear and safe.

Eddie Ross, Bear Scotland’s North West representative, said: “Since the closure at least two landslides have occurred above the A83 which have predominantly been caught in the debris nets although the events are continuing.

“Excess water has also washed material onto a section of the Old Military Road.

“With poor weather set to continue overnight we will reassess the situation on an ongoing basis.”

In Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute, the A814 road was closed after high winds caused chunks of masonry to fall of a tenement next door to an abandoned Chinese restaurant.

The building at the junction of Sinclair Street and East Clyde Street which has been badly damaged by high winds and rain.

Members of the public are furious about the Helensburgh incident.

Lois Smith said: “Beyond a joke that A&B council have not forced action on this building in the numerous years it has been deemed dangerous and unstable. Also truly miraculous that you have avoided injury to a member of the public in this time.”

Joan Fraser rounded off the public tirade of anger: ” No more excuses please-this building is collapsing in on itself and putting other’s lives and properties at risk. Storm Aiden is fast approaching – and no doubt that’ll be just be the first of many this winter – Safe demolition MUST be scheduled ASAP!”

The Lismore Ferry which helped to keep kept the lights on in Jura during the storm.

Argyll and Bute Council sent this messsage: “Well done to our ferry crews, sailing to Jura and Lismore over the weekend who battled some stormy water to help SSEN keep the power going on the islands.

“On Saturday, the Jura ferry crew sailed when possible through 65 mph gusts of wind on the Sound of Islay to take teams and equipment to make necessary repairs.

“Yesterday, the crew on the Port Appin – Lismore Ferry was happy to help teams from SSEN get home safely after they made an emergency dash to the island to repair damage to the overhead network.

“Unfortunately, they missed the ferry home. However, one of their mainland colleagues contacted the crew, who made an extra sailing to make sure they were able to start making their way home that night.

Meanwhile, an outdoor light show in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens was cancelled because of the stormy conditions.

GlasGLOW organisers itison said in a statement: “There are currently high winds, and whilst the gardens themselves are safe, we have lots of barriers throughout the gardens for social distancing, which are vulnerable to high winds.

“We’re absolutely devastated to have to cancel, especially at short notice, but the wind has picked up to a level where we need to be cautious.”

The company added all ticket holder will be refunded.

• Top picture: Memory Lane – Not for the first time the water breaches the sea wall on West Clyde Street, Helensburgh.