Janet and David Jamieson are trapped in their home due to rising flood water in Navity Park in Ballingry. Picture by Steve Brown.

CLAIRE WARRENDER, JAMIE BUCHAN AND GRAHAM BROWN

Torrential rain brought widespread misery across Courier Country, with residents affected by flooding fears and motorists finding their journeys curtailed by road closures.

The weather caused problems across Fife, Perthshire and Angus and promised no respite, with temperatures due to plummet and wintry conditions forecast to bite into the weekend.

A Met Office warning of snow and ice runs until Monday.

Up to 20 inches of snow could hit the highest regions of Tayside, with as much as six inches possible even at low levels.

Yesterday the deluge was the main issue as environment agency Sepa issued a flood alert for all areas.

One Fife couple feared their home would succumb to floods for the second time in six months.

Kate and Steve Hampshaw are still in rental accommodation after being rescued from their Kinglassie villa by boat during storms in August.

They watched in horror on Thursday night as the Lochty Burn again breached its banks and water poured into their garden.

As they desperately sought emergency sandbags they feared the months of repair work on their house in Ashgrove Terrace were about to be undone.

They have now called for more action on flood prevention in the area.

“We can’t live with this stress,” said Kate.

“We’re worried for our home every time it rains, and it’s a complete nightmare.”

The retired couple spent much of the night in their garden as days of rainfall saw water levels rise to the parapet of the bridge over the burn.

“We contacted our councillor, Craig Walker, and he got us emergency sandbags,” said Steve.

“Without them, the water would just have flowed right into our house,” he added.

“It’s dropped about a foot this morning but it’s still raining.

“Somebody needs to take responsibility but they just keep passing the buck.”

Kate and Steve’s home bore the brunt when the Lochty Burn burst its banks in August and sent water cascading into their garden.

They lost the entire ground floor when their dining room wall crashed down.

Mr Walker said around 250 sandbags were issued in Kinglassie on Thursday night.

“There was quite a bit of concern in the village,” he said.

The SNP councillor added: “At the moment it’s about making sure properties aren’t breached and people come through it unscathed.

“We’re still working to try to come up with a permanent solution.

“I know it’s frustrating for residents, particularly those who were flooded in August.

“My heart goes out to them for the stress they’re suffering. It’s really horrendous.”

Councillors will discuss a proposal to invest £450,000 in flood measures across Fife at a committee later this month.

Fife Council delivered sandbags to residents in Cardenden, Freuchie Mill and Strathmiglo as well as Kinglassie on Thursday.

There were also reports of flooding in Cairneyhill and Culross, as well as a landslip at Dura Den.

Head of assets, transportation and environment, Ken Gourlay, said: “Teams are out delivering sandbags and we’re doing all we can to minimise the risk of further flooding.”

Action includes clearing gullies and drains, checking water levels and shoring up any weak points.

Roads were closed in Kinglassie, Glenrothes and Thornton in central Fife.

In the east of the region, Auchtermuchty to Grange of Lindores and the Dunshalt to Falkland roads were shut.

The A914 from Cupar to the A92 was also closed.

In west Fife the B920 was closed at Lochgelly High School after water from neighbouring fields flowed on to the road.

At least six routes across the region and the surrounding area were affected by harsh, wintery weather overnight.

The A93 at Glenshee, the A924 Pitlochry from Edradour junction to Kirkmichael village, the A93 Isla Road between Upper Springlands and Bridgend, near Perth, the B919 Mawcarse Road, and the A913 Aberargie to Abernethy were all closed in the early hours of yesterday, as snow and rain battered the region.

Police warned drivers to stay clear of the A822 at Amulree, which was also hit by snowfall but was described as “passable with care”.

A force spokesman said there was localised flooding on several minor and unclassified roads, including routes near Newtyle, Fowlis and Strathmartine.

The A85 between Perth and Crieff was closed due to heavy flooding overnight, but was able to reopen after a daylight inspection.

Forecasters said the wintry showers will be “widespread, persistent and heavy”, lasting until 6am today.

Dundee woman Joyce McGuinness woke to find water pouring into her Riverside Cottage home at Baldovie, just off the Kellas Road leading into the city.

She has blamed the problem on a so-far undeveloped housing site near her home.

The firm that was originally given permission to build on the land collapsed nearly a decade ago and Mrs McGuinness has been unable to find out who is responsible for the issues now.

The 65-year-old, who suffers from severe anxiety, said she and her late husband, Tom, had feared flooding from the Fithie Burn when permission for the new houses was granted for the land behind their home several years ago.

“They started work and put this big dam in which moved the stream,” she said.

“It used to go under the bridge, but the burn just can’t cope.

“There’s a weir but it just gets blocked up.

“I go up and clear it so the water can get through, but there is so much stuff comes down that it just builds up again,” she said.

After checking the situation late on Thursday night, her flood fears were realised when water engulfed the garden and poured into her porch and kitchen in the early hours of yesterday.

“A neighbour was good enough to put sandbags down for me but I am just so upset and don’t know what I can do,” she said.

“No one seems to be able to help.

“I’ve lived here 30 years and neither I or the neighbours have seen it like this.”

“We’re worried for our home every time it rains, and it’s a complete nightmare