Schoolchildren moved out as Fife classrooms flood

DELUGE: Downpour also hits roads and causes travel delays

Children were flooded out of their classrooms as torrential rain battered parts of Fife yesterday.

As the region was hit by flash flooding, thunder and lightning, youngsters had to be moved from parts of Burntisland Primary’s north wing. However, the school is expected to reopen as normal today.

Other areas were also badly affected by the dramatic downpour, which left roads under several inches of water and householders counting the cost as drains struggled to cope with the volume of water.

Kirkcaldy was worst hit and an accident on the A92 caused by a falling tree caused major delays for travellers.

Drivers were also urged to avoid the Esplanade and the bottom of Oriel Road, with routes out of the town also flooded.

Torrential downpours caused flash flooding across parts of Fife yesterday.

As roads across the region were hit, children were flooded out of their classrooms as the persistent heavy rain affected Burntisland Primary School.

Fife Council said youngsters had to be moved from a section of the school’s north wing due to water coming into the building.

Learning continued in other parts of the school and, while it is hoped it will reopen as normal today, parents have been urged to check social media for updates.

Kirkcaldy Galleries, which houses the town’s museum, art gallery and library, was also forced to close early due to flooding. Staff said it would not reopen until tomorrow.

Elsewhere, firefighters in Kirkcaldy had to pump water from their own fire station in Dunnikier Road, while they were also called to help a stricken householder in Dysart.

Homeowners and tenants across Kirkcaldy reported problems caused by blocked drains, which saw water suddenly rising into their properties.

The town was worst affected by the torrent, which was accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Roads were described as being like rivers for much of the afternoon as covers lifted off drains and manholes due to the sheer volume of water.

As the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a flood alert affecting the entire kingdom, commuters were warned of significant disruption on several routes.

The A92 was closed in both directions between Redhouse roundabout in Kirkcaldy and Bankhead in Glenrothes after a fallen tree caused an accident shortly after 3pm.

No injuries were reported and a team was dispatched to remove the blockage.

The Esplanade, Valley Gardens and Victoria Road were all reported to be under several inches of water and cars were stuck as the downpour continued.

One woman said she witnessed a near miss as one driver tried to avoid the deep water covering the entire northbound carriageway.

“The traffic was all moving very slowly through the deep water when someone driving north skipped into the southbound carriageway to get past the flood,” she said.

“There was a car coming the other way and the driver seemed oblivious.”

The rain has forced Fife College to close its Kirkcaldy campus to everyone today, other than students sitting exams.

This is due to internal damage caused by water pouring through ceilings at the height of the downpour. cwarrender@thecourier.co.uk

Kirkcaldy Esplanade was flooded during the torrential rain.