UK weather: 10 people airlifted after multiple landslides on roads in Scotland
Ten people have been airlifted to safety after extreme rainfall caused multiple landslides in Scotland.
Aerial footage shared by search and rescue helicopters showed soil across the A83 between Tarbet and Lochgilphead – with the A815 also affected.
Several vehicles were stuck, and Police Scotland told Sky News that no injuries have been reported.
The yellow and amber weather warnings covering Scotland on Saturday and Sunday
Get the latest Sky News forecast here
Amber and yellow weather alerts for heavy downpours are in place across large parts of Scotland until Sunday morning – with a month’s worth of rain expected to fall in a single day.
Officers are urging drivers in Argyll and Bute not to travel at all – with flooding reported on roads nationwide.
Rail services have also been cancelled, and passengers in England are being urged not to travel to Scotland. Where services are running, reduced speeds are in operation.
Network Rail Scotland said its pumps in Clydebank had been “overwhelmed” by extreme rainfall – with water rising to window level on a train.
And while the mainline between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street had temporarily been closed, engineers have now concluded it is safe for services to run.
Sporting events have also been disrupted, with the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship at St Andrews postponed until Sunday.
Dundee’s Scottish Premiership game with Ross County was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, one of many football matches affected.
Up to 180mm (8in) of rain has been forecast for parts of the Highlands, in what Scottish authorities are describing as a “major rainfall event”.
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Cars stranded in flooded roads in Scotland
Ruth Ellis, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: “We’re likely to see extensive river and surface water flooding impacts across those areas. Danger to life, widespread property flooding, flooding of roads and disruption to infrastructure is possible.”
SEPA currently has 17 flood alerts in force – alongside 53 flood warnings.
The agency went on to warn “this is not just a normal autumn flooding event” – and it was really concerned about families travelling during the school holidays, as some may currently be camping.
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Summer-like temperatures in the South
There is a substantial North/South divide in the weather this weekend.
Temperatures in South East England could reach 24C (75F) on Saturday and 25C (77F) on Sunday – with the Midlands and Wales also remaining sunny in unusual conditions for October.
Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, said the fine and settled conditions will continue throughout the weekend, although there will be slightly more cloud and hazy sunshine on Sunday.
He added: “[It will be] dry for pretty much everyone in the southern half of the country and unseasonably warm temperatures as well.
“As we get into the very far North of England and into Scotland that’s where the difference starts, with some persistent and heavy rain across Scotland and mostly notably in western Scotland, where we’re likely to see the highest totals.”
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd at Liverpool FC’s trophy parade.
Paul Doyle, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, has been charged with seven offences, Merseyside Police said.
The businessman, who is a father-of-three, is accused of two counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and two counts of causing unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Paul Doyle
Doyle is also accused of two counts of attempted unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of dangerous driving.
He is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges relate to six people, including two children. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child.
A police car was outside Doyle’s four-bedroom detached family home in the West Derby area on Thursday morning.
According to his social media, he has travelled extensively including Japan, Fiji, India and Australia. Doyle has posted pictures of himself competing in triathlons, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
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New Liverpool incident footage
Thousands of fans were gathered in Liverpool city centre on Monday to celebrate the Premier League champions’ title win when a car struck a crowd on Water Street.
Police said a total of 79 people were injured in the incident, with the youngest aged nine, and the oldest being a 78-year-old.
Seven people remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Forensic officers at the scene in Water Street. Pic: PA
‘Huge volume of evidence’
Chief crown prosecutor for the CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, told a news conference on Thursday that the investigation was at an early stage and a “huge volume of evidence” was being reviewed.
“This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. It is important to ensure that every victim gets the justice they deserve.
“The charges will be kept under review as the investigation progresses.”
Police ‘working tirelessly’
Also at the briefing where the charges were announced was Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Jenny Sims, who said: “I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions.
“Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. When we are able to, we will provide further information.”
The youngest victim injured in the Liverpool parade crash on Monday is nine years old, police have said.
They added that the oldest is 78, with all 79 people injured understood to be British. Seven remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Merseyside Police declined to say what drug the 53-year-old man arrested over the incident is alleged to have taken.
“We wouldn’t go into this detail at this stage of the investigation,” the force said.
Police at the scene in Liverpool. Pic: AP
Forensic officers in Water Street. Pic: PA
Police are still questioning the driver and were granted further time to do so on Wednesday.
Officers have until Thursday evening to question the man from West Derby.
He is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police believe the car which struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a road block was temporarily lifted.
Hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans had turned out to celebrate their team’s Premier League title when the incident unfolded on Water Street just after 6pm on Monday.
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‘My boy in his pram, got bounced’
‘The best day of my life turned into worst’
Sky News interviewed a lifelong Liverpool fan who said his five-month-old son was “bounced” 15ft (4.6m) in his pram after they were hit by the vehicle.
The child was not counted in the police’s injury tally.
Daniel Eveson, 36, also said his partner had been driven over.
“The best day of my life turned into [the] worst,” Mr Eveson said.
He added: “Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us.
“And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction – about 15ft down the road.”
Read more:
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Police given more time to question Liverpool suspect
Why police released ‘unprecedented’ details
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Liverpool to meet with police chiefs and the local metro mayor.
He said he was being kept informed of developments, adding: “The scenes on Monday were just awful, to see how incredible joy at an amazing achievement turned to horror in a moment.”
Messages of support have been sent to the people of Liverpool, including from the King who said: “I know that the strength of community spirit for which your city is renowned will be a comfort and support to those in need.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident.
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