Torrential rain and strong winds caused flooding and travel chaos across parts of Scotland today. Roads and railway lines were closed as a result of the atrocious conditions, which also affected ferry sailings.

The bad weather swept across the country overnight and was expected to continue throughout the day.

Flood warnings were put in place by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) and the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for the north of Scotland. Flash floods were predicted across the north, north-east and north-west of Scotland.

Heavy, persistent rain fell overnight across Aberdeenshire and Moray, where up to 1.5 inches (40mm) of rain was predicted to fall on higher ground.

Sepa said there were four flood warnings: on the River Carron near Inverness, the River Lyon in Tayside and on the River Earn from Comrie to Crieff and also downstream of Crieff to Bridge of Earn.

In the Highlands, the major A9 was shut near Evanton and many minor roads were also affected.

The railway line and the A862 road between Dingwall and Ardullie were also closed as a result of a landslide, Northern Constabulary said.

Almost 18 inches of flood water was reported in Edinburgh on the Wisp road in the south east of the city , Lothian and Borders Police said.

In Fife, the A919 between St Michaels and Leuchars was shut as a result of a landslide. In Glenrothes, Western Avenue was closed between A92 junction and the Coull roundabout. Fife Police warned that surface water made driving conditions treacherous on roads across the region.

In Glasgow, flooding halted trains on the Argyll line from Bridgeton early on but quickly subsided.

Police across the country urged motorists to drive with caution. In the Borders, high winds blew leaves on to roads, making bad driving conditions even worse.