Landslides and flooding cause rail and road disruption in Sutherland

Part of the North Highland railway line has been closed temporarily this evening due to a landslide caused by flooding.

Firefighters were alerted to the landslip, just north of Kildonan station, near Helmsdale in Sutherland, at about 5.30pm.

Two train services between Inverness and Wick have been affected as a result.

A section of the A897 road at Kildonan Lodge has also been closed off by police due to the landslip and flooding.

A message displayed on Scotrail’s website states that “disruption is expected until 8pm” tonight, and that services will either be cancelled, delayed or revised.

It adds: “We apologise for the delay to your journey today”.

Earlier this afternoon, firefighters form Helmsdale were called out to the scene to tackle flooding affecting two properties in the Kildonan area.

A fire service spokeswoman said they received a call to deal with “severe localised flooding” at about 4.30pm.

She said that the crew of four are continuing to divert water away from the homes and are being helped by a local resident with a digger.

It is unknown at this stage if the firefighters are having to pump water out of the affected properties.