Work is finally due to start on a long-awaited flood scheme in an Inverness-shire village, following the appointment of a contractor.
Many homes in the Wardlaw Road area of Kirkhill have been subject to frequent flooding in recent years, with heavy downpours leading to the overflow of Kirkhill Burn.
One family has suffered three major floods in less than five years since they moved into their home.
Jamie Dryden and Donna Boa, and their children Romi and Eva, were forced to move out for a year due to water damage caused by a flood in 2012 – and their Christmas was ruined by another deluge in 2013.
They were affected by flooding again in 2015.
Highland Council pledged to resolve the problem last summer by advertising a contract for the work, which will be carried out by Global Infrastructure.
The £160,000 scheme will divert the existing water from Wardlaw Road along a new route in adjacent fields and private gardens, and will involve building a new pipe and a series of pits to catch silt and prevent drains blocking.
When the contract was first advertised, Ms Boa responded the scheme would “completely change” their lives.
She also revealed it was a constant worry whenever they were away from the home for a few days because they were unable to monitor the house.
She said the biggest flooding event was in 2012 when they had to move out for a year to renovate, and that it cost them £60,000 in insurance works.
The couple were unreachab at the weekend.
Last night Emma Knox, Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Council secretary, said: “The community council certainly welcomes the decision. There are quite a lot of residents directly affected by the flooding but a difficult balance has to be struck to make sure work is not overly intrusive.”
During the floods in 2015, firefighters were also called out after cars became stranded in flood water on the old A9 between Inverness and Beauly.
Crews from Inverness pumped water from the road at Inchberry while a tow truck pulled cars from the water.