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Scotland weather: Ten people airlifted to safety after Argyll landslips

Bear Scotland Landslip on the A83Bear Scotland
The A83 is often closed by landslips like this one on Saturday

Ten people had to be airlifted from their vehicles after landslips closed two roads in Argyll.

A number of vehicles were stuck on the A83 and A815 near Inveraray and an HM Coastguard helicopter was used to take them to safety.

The landslips were caused by hours of heavy rain which has seen widespread flooding and travel disruption in parts of the west coast of Scotland.

Police said there were no reports of any injuries in the rescue operation.

The roads remain closed and drivers are being warned to avoid the area.

HM Coastguard helicopter rescue stranded people

A crew from HM Coastguard in Prestwick was called in by Police Scotland to help with the recovery operation on Saturday morning.

Aerial footage shared by the service showed mud and water blocking the road between Tarbet and Lochgoilhead. The A815 was also affected.

The A83 is an almost 100-mile (161km) major trunk road connecting the Mull of Kintyre and southern Argyll to the shores of Loch Lomond.

The road has long been troubled by landslips caused by heavy rain. The section at the Rest and be Thankful, where the road passes through Glen Croe in the Arrochar Alps mountains, is regularly closed by falling rocks and debris.

The closures can leave motorists facing long detours while the route is cleared.

Transport Scotland is planning to build a mile-long open-sided tunnel on the road. which it is estimated will cost up to £470m.

About 1.3 million vehicles travel the route every year and it acts as an important transport link for mainland Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides.

Bear Scotland A83 Butterbridge North of Rest and Be ThankfulBear Scotland
Saturday's rain has brought floods and landslips along the A83

It is not yet clear how long Saturday's closure will last.

Traffic Scotland chief executive Stein Connolly told BBC Scotland the conditions had been "very challenging", with a month's rain falling in 24 hours and this would have an effect on how long it took to clear the roads.

"At the moment with the heavy rainfall it is unsafe to let the operative go in and try to clear these landslides and that's what gives us an issue because this issue is going to last for a while now, especially in the Argyll and Bute area where we have a number of landslides," he said.

Police Scotland said: "There are several road closures in the area due to flooding and landslides: A83 - Closed between Tarbet and Inverary. A815 - Closed between Dunoon and A83. A816 - Closed between Lochgilphead and Oban. Diversions are in place.

"Drivers should avoid travelling in the Argyll and Bute area due to significant disruption."