Rain washes human bones into street from cemetery

HUMAN bones were washed from their plots in a graveyard on to a street as heavy rains battered Scotland.

The severe weather caused a boundary wall at Largo and Newburn Parish Church, in Upper Largo, Fife, to collapse, disturbing a number of ancient graves.

With debris blocking the road below, council workmen helped to retrieve the bones and make the area safe.

Liz Murphy, head of bereavement services at Fife Council, said: ‘Unfortunately, some historic graves were disturbed and exposed. In order to preserve the dignity of the deceased, where safe, the remains have been moved into the church. Any exposed ancient lairs are covered until it is safe to restore or rebury them.’

The incident, on Saturday, was just one of many as Fife endured torrential rain and flooding. Council teams have been out in force targeting areas still affected as they battle to reopen roads.

Service manager Bill Liddle said: ‘Any locations where we had standing water will be revisited and gullies cleaned. A couple of locations still have standing water and minor roads are closed, so we will be working in these areas to get them open.’

He added: ‘Any damage associated with the flooding will now be assessed and dealt with. We will also be replenishing our sandbag stock.’

A number of Fife beaches, including Aberdour’s Black Sands, remain off-limits to the public because of the threat of pollution after Scottish Water crews had to open valves to release pressure, allowing untreated waste into the Forth.

Lisa McCann, environmental health service manager for Fife Council, said: ‘We are monitoring beaches alongside Fife Coast & Countryside Trust, and working with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, following their guidance on water quality.’

It comes as forecasters warn some areas of Scotland could see 50mm (2ins) of rain over a 24-hour period this weekend.

Met Office data shows Threave, in Kirkcudbrightshire has already had 178mm (7ins) of rain so far this month – almost double the August average for Scotland.

Downpours have caused travel chaos and left homes, roads and railways damaged.

Engineers for Network Rail have spent days trying to repair the West Highland Line between Ardlui and Crianlarich, Stirlingshire.

It has been closed since August 4 after heavy rainfall caused the slope supporting the track to give way at several points in Glen Falloch and is not expected to reopen until August 22.