Residents and businesses in Brechin still recovering six months on from Storm Babet

Some businesses in the Angus village of Brechin are still unable to reopen six months on from the devastating floods caused by Storm Babet.

Torrential rain last October, which sparked a rare red weather warning, forced hundreds of people out of their homes and shuttered local firms.

Among them was East Mill Road Caravan Park, located a few hundred metres from where the town’s flood defence system was breached.

“This park home started here, that was the edge of it. It’s been washed over ten feet this way, up against the two trees there,” said owner Scott Murray.

“Everything needs to be power washed, the mud and the silt. Replacing electric boxes. It’s just constant really.

“We tidy up and tidy up, and clean up and clean up. It’s non-stop just now.”

Local residents are also rebuilding their lives after fleeing properties when it was feared the town’s multi-million pound flood defence system would be breached.

That included Imelda Evans.

She told STV News: “About 6 o’clock there was a knock on the door, there was the firemen and the RNLI and they said we have to get out.”

The 72-year-old returned two weeks later and has spent much of the last six months confined to the upstairs of her property.

“It was just constantly upstairs, you couldn’t go into any of the rooms downstairs as there was nothing to sit on.”

Many people affected by flooding in Brechin have turned to the town’s Crickety, which has helped flood victims find alternative accommodation and emotional support.

“People have lost everything, people have broken down in front of us, a whole range of emotions,” said Grant Hutchison from Brechin Buccaneers.

“We’ve distributed around £100,000, we’ve got maybe £30,000 to £40,000 for people set aside for people who’ve applied but don’t have a home to move back to.”

The total repair bill from Storm Babet in Angus goes well into the millions.

A spokesperson for Angus Council, said: “Angus Council and its partners have worked hard to help the whole of Angus and especially Brechin, to recover from the unprecedented amount of damage caused by Storm Babet just six months ago.

“The recovery is ongoing and will be for some time with work underway in many areas.

“Residents can receive updates and support via our drop-in service which runs every Thursday morning at the Crickety, via our dedicated web page https://engage.angus.gov.uk/brechin or by phoning our ACCESSline on 03452 777 778.”