VIDEO: Drone footage shows the scale of River Don flooding

Villages in Aberdeenshire are assessing the damage after the River Don rose to record levels and burst its banks amid continued heavy rain.

Dozens of homes were evacuated in Inverurie, Port Elphinstone and Ellon overnight as the swollen river sent flood waters racing down the streets.

Water also spilled from the River Ythan and teams from the Scottish Fire Service and the coastguard mounted an operation to rescue residents.

People were put up in rest centres while a number of local hotels also opened their doors to flooding victims free of charge.

Gauges in Haughton, just outside Inverurie, measured the Don at 5.6m (18.37ft) – the highest level for 45 years – while it measured 5.5m (18ft) at Parkhill in Aberdeen.