Aberdeenshire vigil for woman swept away at River Don while trying to save dog during flooding

A church in Aberdeenshire is preparing to hold a vigil for a woman feared to be swept away in severe flooding.

Emergency crews were called to the River Don at Monymusk at around 3.20pm on Friday afternoon following reports of a person in difficulty.

It is thought the woman, who has not been named by police, was attempting to rescue a dog from fast-flowing water amid a yellow weather warning for heavy rain.

The search was stood down by Aberdeen Coastguard around 6pm on Friday after the conditions of the river were assessed, but restarted on Saturday and has continued into Sunday.

Monymusk Parish Church has since offered to open its doors for local people to join in prayer at a candlelit vigil on Sunday evening.

The service is to be led by the Reverend Euan Glen.

Police said the search would continue and further updates would be issued in due course.

Speaking on Saturday, Inspector Rory Campbell said: “Officers, along with colleagues from the SFRS and the Coastguard, have resumed searches in the area where the woman was last seen.

“Conditions are tricky and dangerous and I am appealing to members of the public to stay away from flooded areas. Please be careful when you are out and about.”