30/12/2013 Reporting Scotland

Good evening. Torrential rain has caused flooding

across the south and west of Scotland, with homes evacuated, and

roads closed. Firefighters helped rescue people from flooded

properties in East Ayrshire, and in Dumfries and Galloway. The heavy

rain also led to some disruption on the rail network. More than 30 flood

warnings remain in place across the country tonight. Catriona Renton

reports. This was the weather on our journey

south this morning. We saw flooding at Douglas water in South

Lanarkshire, then we arrived in Dumfries Galloway. Locals watched

the Raft of the river that burst its banks. They were worried by the

heavy rain that had fallen overnight. All the residents were

concerned about the rate it was rising. We got some sandbags from

the council which was a great difficulty. We weren't prepared for

this. It started rising very quickly. It has travelled about 12

feet further up. As the waters rose, the owner of the house on the corner

had to leave. Somebody phoned me to ask if I had seen what was

happening. I was in bed, I walked out. Later on, it started to get

worse, so I've just come away and left everything. I don't know what

it is going to be like. 30 homes in the village had to be evacuated. The

miners Memorial Hall became a place to take shelter. You just got to get

on with that. It's an act of God, that's that. Nothing you can do

about it. What's the damage like? It is cordoned off, then not allowing

us into the place. Meanwhile, firefighters worked all day to help.

They had to get some people out by dinghy. It rose pretty quickly. It

took the residents by surprise. At 10:30am this morning, the Fire and

Rescue Service will called to the scene. We got our boats and other

resources into place to affect rescues. You can see from the lines

on the walls that are water is starting to recede. It looks like

there might be some respite for now. But there is heavy rain predicted

for overnight. And how the saturated ground reacts to that is a worry.

And the clean-up will take some time.

And for the latest flood warnings in your area, go to the SEPA floodline

website. A man has been arrested following

the deaths of a mother and her two-year-old son in Midlothian. The

body of 29-year-old Janet Lockhart was discovered by police at a house

in Bonnyrigg on Saturday evening after a family friend had voiced

concern. Her two-year-old son Michael was also found dead. Police

Scotland say a 32-year-old man is expected to appear at Edinburgh

Sheriff Court tomorrow. Thousands of people are expected to

take part in the annual torchlight procession through Edinburgh

tonight. The event marks the official start of the capital's

Hogmanay celebrations, and the beginning of Scotland's Year of

Homecoming 2014. As with last year, the procession will be led by

Shetland's Up Helly Aa Vikings, and the massed pipes and drums.

Year-on-year, we break the record for attendance. Last year we had

35,000 people who took part in the procession. This year, we are

expecting the same numbers. We have sold out earlier than we have in

previous years. So there is a big interest at the start of the event

over the three days and tickets have gone very well.

In football, the St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin has been banned for two

matches for violent conduct. It follows the game on Boxing Day in

which Goodwin struck Dundee United's Stuart Armstrong. The incident was

missed by the referee. Meanwhile, the Celtic manager Neil

Lennon has confirmed he's chasing new signings when the transfer

window opens on Wednesday. That's despite Celtic ending the year

unbeaten in the league, and 11 points clear at the top. Kheredine

Idessane has a round-up of yesterday's matches.

Played 18, 115, lost none. Those are the stats as Neil Lennon's men ring

in the New Year and beat them. They kept the momentum going winning in

Inverness. Since losing five at the start of the month to Celtic,

Motherwell have been banging in the goal s. They thrashed Motherwell. --

they thrashed their opponents. Aberdeen had into 2014 in third

place. The latest win the latest women coming courtesy of this man.

-- their latest women. Think Johnston's men upfront got the ball

rolling. Dundee United were reduced to two men. Two more goals followed.

It was a hat-trick. Hibs wanted to win to honour the memory of David

Paul who died just before Christmas. Their victory arrived. Louis

Stevenson scored. The honours were even at Saint Mirren Park when the

home side got off to a flyer for the team.

Now let's get the latest weather forecast, from Judith Ralston.

Good evening. It seems to me that the weather is very repetitive in

nature. What we are seeing our weather front crossing the country.

The next weather system is waiting in the wings but it won't bring the

amount of rain we saw today. Then there is another one pushing in

making somewhat windy conditions. This evening, we have dry weather,

clear skies, some frost as well and the ice risk for the north-east.

Cloud the giving up in the West. -- thickening up. Temperatures, four

Celsius in the West, cold in the East. Strong winds. So, tomorrow,

there is a yellow warning for some rain across the north and Central

belt. But it's not the persistence or the heaviness of the rain, but

the fact it's falling on saturated ground. The rain band falls away,

it'll become drier for money of us. Then some showers into the West.

Butchers, seven or eight. So, if you're heading out for New Year's

Eve, we will see a band of showers crossing early in the evening. We're

thinking about a lot of dry weather at midnight. Wrap up if you're

heading out. On the whole, it is going to stay dry. Wrap up and have

a good one. All change as we head into New Year's Day. As an early

warning for rain through the south and central parts of Scotland. It

starts try Bob first of all, then we see rain pushing, accompanied by

strengthening winds. The far north staying dry at the rain extending

here. Already sensitive areas will be saturated. It is going to be

windy, too. Thanks, Judith. And that's all for

now. Reporting Scotland's back after the ten o'clock news tonight. Join

us then if you can. But from everyone here, have a very good

evening. Another day off strong winds, heavy

rain and flooding. At least things are quiet at the moment. The rain

has cleared off and the wind is lighter. There might be some ice in

Scotland, but through the night, the wind