Chaos as Storm Ciara batters Scotland

● Waverley railway station shut to new passengers because of overcrowding

A guesthouse in Hawick, Roxburghshire, collapsed after its foundations were swept away by the River Teviot after Storm Ciara hit Scotland with flooding and winds of up to 80mph, causing widespread travel disruption.

A diver died in an accident off Oban in Argyll yesterday as Storm Ciara battered Scotland with high winds and heavy rain.

It is believed the 50-year-old, who was with other divers, got into difficulties in the Sound of Kerrera.

Oban Lifeboat was unable to reach the group because of the appalling weather. The diver’s death is being treated as unexplained.

Winds reached speeds of almost 80mph in parts of the country and dramatic video footage captured the moment a cafe and guesthouse collapsed into the River Teviot as the storm caused chaos across the country.

Police were called to Bridge House Guest House and Sonia’s Bistro in Hawick, Roxburghshire, at about 9:30am to reports of structural damage.

Dramatic pictures and videos posted on social media showed a complete wall of the building collapsing into the fast-flowing river, leaving the rooms exposed. No one was injured.

A gust of 77mph was recorded in Tiree and 70mph in Lerwick on Shetland, the Met Office said.

In Edinburgh, passengers due to travel on cross-border rail services from Waverley Station were being asked not to go to the station because of the crowds of travellers already waiting for services heading south.

Police were posted at all three entrances to the station, as staff said it remained open to passengers wishing to travel within Scotland, but those heading south were being asked to make other arrangements.

Scotrail said it had also suspended services between Kilwinning and Largs and Ardrossan due to the severe weather conditions, while a replacement bus service it had brought in to cover the Aberdeen to Dundee line had to be scrapped due to the weather.

Avanti West Coast, which runs rail services between London and Scotland, took the decision not to run trains north of Preston as a result of the impact of the storm.

The Forth Road Bridge was shut to all traffic and the Queensferry Crossing shut to double decker buses, while the A1 at East Linton in East Lothian was also shut to high-sided vehicles.

Authorities had warned that the storm was likely to cause significant disruption after the Met Office issued yellow warnings of strong winds across Scotland.

Heavy rain resulted in flooding in the Whitesands area of Dumfries, after the River Nith burst its banks.

There was widespread disruption on ferries as operator Caledonian Macbrayne suspended or cancelled many of its services, as the west of the country bore the brunt of the bad weather.

The A78 road northbound between Largs and Skelmorlie in Ayrshire was also closed due to flooding.

Transport secretary Michael Matheson said: “The Met Office is telling us that we are facing a prolonged period of adverse weather, with Storm Ciara bringing strong winds and rain to most of Scotland.

“We’re also being told to expect snow and high winds throughout Monday and on Tuesday morning, so there is the potential for significant disruption on the trunk road network, as well as other modes of transport.

“It’s important that people check the latest information before they set off, drive to the conditions and follow Police Scotland travel advice.”

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued 15 flood alerts and 60 flood warnings, saying: “Storm Ciara has arrived with a dangerous combination of high tides, high storm surge and high inshore waves across coastal areas.”

Police Scotland’s road policing unit warned the weather would bring more disruption and delay today