A caravan park has been evacuated due to severe flooding.
Emergency services were called to North Esk Park at St Cyrus after the river burst its banks, flooding the surrounding low-lying land.
The park – which was repeatedly refused planning permission due to flooding concerns – is a permanent halting site for travellers.
The group was finally granted planning approval last year – after a 10-year wrangle.
The caravan park and several other properties close to the North Esk’s banks have been badly flooded.
Aberdeen Coastguard confirmed that three rescue teams have been deployed from Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven to assist in the evacuation.
They received the call-out at 3.25pm to help the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with evacuating people from the caravan site.
It is not yet known how many people have been evacuated or the extent of the damage.
Long queues have formed on the A92 Stonehaven to Montrose road as the evacuation has forced many residents to flee.
One witness said: “There are numerous emergency vehicles on site currently.
“There is queuing traffic on the road while the rescue operation is ongoing.
‘Caravans became in danger of being completely engulfed.’
“I have seen coastguard vehicles, fire engines, ambulances and police.”
Another witness said: “The river has been rising all day and completely flooded the area.
“The water has risen so high the caravans became in danger of being completely engulfed.
“People are having to be taken out by emergency services to safety.”
Water from the North Esk river has also travelled down and has affected the St Cyrus Nature Reserve.
Officials at the nature reserve are warnings the public against using any of the paths or trying to use the cliff walks saying they are “extremely vulnerable to landslides”.
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