Incredible aerial footage shows the extent of a massive landslide which has shut a major Scots road.
An estimated 5,000 tonnes of sludge dropped onto the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and Old Military Road in 24 hours as heavy rain lashed the country.
The notorious stretch of Argyll and Bute highway was taken out during a similar storm last month.
Eddie Ross, of road maintenance firm BEAR Scotland, said: “With exceptionally heavy rain forecast on Saturday night and Sunday morning we took the decision to proactively close the A83 and OMR on safety grounds.”
Ross told how 75mm of rain - almost three weeks’ worth - fell in a few hours in the early hours of Sunday.
The deluge triggered another huge landslide at the same spot as on August 4.
He added: “Much of this was caught in the temporary debris fence and debris pits however as the landslide event continued throughout Sunday those measures were overtopped onto the A83 with some reaching the Old Military Road.”
The clear up started in drier conditions today with a review on when the road might reopen expected tomorrow.
Ross added: “As ever, we thank the local community for their patience while we deal with this unprecedented situation. Argyll, of course, remains open for business via the diversion route and via the extended Dunoon to Gourock ferry services.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
