The scale of the damage caused by Storm Boelo across Ayrshire is becoming clear as emergency crews continue to pump floodwater from a care home and businesses count the cost of the weekend’s severe weather.
Largs and Saltcoats were among the worst-hit communities after powerful winds, heavy rain and high tides combined to send water into properties along the North Ayrshire coast.
Fire crews remained at Caledonia Care Home in Sidney Street, Saltcoats, on Monday after floodwater around four feet deep surrounded the building.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews had worked through the night, with a high-volume pump being used to remove water.
One fire appliance, a water rescue unit and the pump were deployed after the alarm was raised at around 5.20pm on Sunday.
Everyone inside the home was accounted for and emergency arrangements were put in place to allow controlled access if required. Families were advised to avoid visiting unless necessary while the operation continued.
Elsewhere in Saltcoats, homes and gardens were flooded and sections of coastal defences between the town and Ardrossan were damaged, with large concrete barriers displaced by the conditions.
In Largs, businesses are assessing extensive damage after water surged through the town centre. Main Street was inundated, with restaurants and shops left with damaged equipment, stock and interiors.
Tha-Tien-Thai restaurant said its kitchen was left completely waterlogged after floodwater moved appliances and shelving and destroyed food stocks. The restaurant has been forced to close while the damage is dealt with.
Geraldo’s, which has traded in Largs for 26 years, was also badly affected.
Owner Toni Dawson said it was the highest she had seen the water rise during the business’s time in the town, with footage showing fast-moving floodwater around shops on Main Street.
Inspired Vision Bathrooms was another business flooded, while Thorne Travel said seawater had swept through its Largs shop and into its back-office areas.
The travel agency expects the premises to be closed for at least a week and is looking at operating temporarily from a local coffee shop.
Transport infrastructure has also been damaged. The A78 Shore Road between Skelmorlie and Largs remained closed after the storm caused severe cracking and displaced sections of the road surface.
Amey, which maintains the route on behalf of Transport Scotland, said engineers were inspecting the extent of the damage and the road would remain shut until it could be confirmed as safe.
Further south, a fishing boat was left stranded at Irvine Harbour after coming loose from its moorings during the storm.
South Ayrshire was also badly affected. Police said dangerous buildings had to be evacuated in Ayr, while 15 people were helped to safety from a caravan park at Ballantrae because of flooding.
Police Scotland said the south-west of the country had been particularly badly affected, with officers responding to a large number of weather-related incidents.
The Scottish Government confirmed that several properties in Largs and Saltcoats had been flooded and that transport routes had suffered damage.
Ministers met through the Scottish Government Resilience Room on Sunday as emergency services, councils, transport operators and utility companies dealt with the aftermath.
Storm Boelo brought winds of more than 80mph to parts of Scotland over the weekend, causing widespread power cuts, fallen trees and disruption to roads, railways and ferry services.
Another yellow warning for strong winds is due to come into force across much of Scotland on Tuesday, raising the prospect of further disruption while the clean-up continues.