Kincardine and Mearns area manager Willie Munro told councillors at the area committee meeting on Tuesday that water levels at the Braes remained dangerously high and could remain so for many weeks.

Huge quantities of mud and rubble careered down the slopes last week in a series of landslides, leading to the evacuation of more than 100 people.

Mr Munro said the evacuation had gone well, with many householders having already made alternative arrangements following advice from Aberdeenshire Council.

He said: "Water levels are much higher than we consider to be safe. It will be many weeks, I think, until the water levels on the braes reduce to the point we can reduce the alert to a level two.
"We do have a grave situation at Bervie Braes."

One household woke to the devastating sound of mud and trees crashing into the back of their home.

Richard Barnes and his partner Noel McDonnell, who stay at Invercarron Cottage, had already experienced one landslip in January. They had been told a second slide was highly likely.

Mr Barnes said: "It's been months of waiting for this to happen. It's heartbreaking. It's a lovely house and it's a local landmark and to see it in this state is very upsetting. Your home is your castle - you close your front door and you're warm and cosy in your own home, then all of a sudden you're not."

Mr McDonnell said: "When it happened it wasn't just a sudden smash, it was five minutes of more smashing and cracking. I couldn't describe the sound."

Mud has completely swamped the back of the listed building.
Mr Barnes added: "We've taken out all our valuables and the important things like family photographs. As long as we're safe, other things can be replaced. To a certain extent it is a relief it has actually happened, because we knew it was coming."

He said the couple's insurance company were lining up contractors to come and remove the rubble, assess what damage has been done to the house and the best way to move forward from there.