Thunderstorms bring flooding and disruption

Image copyright Phil976 Image caption Lightning lit up the skies over Edinburgh

Homes in North Lanarkshire and Perthshire have been flooded and the M8 was closed after overnight thunderstorms brought torrential rain.

The reopening of a number of schools in Fife and the north east has also been delayed after routes became flooded.

Scotrail said railway services across the country were being disrupted, with lightning strikes causing power outages.

There are no reports of casualties.

Perth and Kinross, the Lothians, Forth Valley and the north east were the worst hit by lightning strikes and heavy rain.

Fresh rainfall on Wednesday morning led to localised flooding in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. Mackie Academy in Stonehaven said it could not accept pupils after roads to the town became impassable.

Dunnottar school said it could not reopen after lockdown, saying the area around the building was currently completely flooded and impassable even on foot.

The fire service said a number of homes were flooded in Airdrie, while they have also been in attendance on the M8 after the dual carriageway was badly affected by flooding between junctions five and seven.

Police are advising people to avoid the area completely as diversion routes are also becoming flooded and impassable.

Fife Council said the reopening of some schools in the area had been delayed because of the weather, with Benarty primary school staying closed and a possible late start for those in Cardenden and Lochgelly.

The fire service control room in Edinburgh said they had received more than 500 calls through the night amid widespread thunder and lightning and torrential rain.

All flights due to land at Edinburgh Airport are being diverted or delayed.

Images posted to social media showed cars floating in the car park at a Falkirk hotel and at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Image copyright Cazzalad1801 Image caption Torrential rain brought flooding to eastern parts of Scotland

In Perth, heavy rain caused flooding which affected the city's railway station.

ScotRail posted pictures of the water covering the tracks on social media.