By Pam McClounie

Published at 21:37, Wednesday, 08 August 2012

SOME stores at a shopping centre were forced to close after a lightning strike cut the power – and a town in the Scottish Borders was deluged with water.

A bolt hit an overhead power line supplying Gretna Gateway on Sunday. It triggered a power outage that lasted for about 20 minutes.

A spokesman said: “There was a lightning strike that caused the power to go out.

“The electricity company then came and switched the power back on.

“Some stores closed while the power was off and others carried on trading because that is their policy.”

Further north, in Jedburgh, Lothian and Borders Police were advising motorists to find alternative routes after the town was hit by a flash flood.

About 30 properties in the town were affected by the flash flood at about 8.30am on Sunday forcing some residents to be moved to a village hall.

The police worked with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Borders Council after the Skip Running burn, which runs through the town, burst its banks.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “Initial calls reported the water was 3ft high but it receded quickly. We worked with our partners to support the residents who were affected. No one was injured as a result of the rising water.”

Roads affected were Duck Row, High Street, Cornelius Close, Market Place and Nagshead Close.

Borders MP Michael Moore has praised local volunteers and response teams who have helped clean up Jedburgh after the terrible floods at the weekend.

He said: “It has been a terrible weekend for shopkeepers and householders in Jedburgh, but the response of local people and teams from the emergency services and the council has been very impressive.

“I have had messages of support for the people of Jed from across the country. Everyone was struck by the television pictures and they are relieved that the clean-up is well underway.

“I will pick up with the council to ensure local people are getting the support they need and the council has the resources it needs to finish the clean-up.”

John Lamont MSP said: “These floods have caused a significant amount of damage in Jedburgh and we should all be grateful that no one has been seriously hurt.

“This is all thanks to the superb work by the local fire service which did an amazing job in evacuating properties and rescuing those who were trapped in their homes. We all owe a debt to their hard work in ensuring that everyone was safe.”

Part of Hawick Library was also closed on Monday after part of the ceiling gave way in the heavy rain.

Workman were on site on Monday to make the building safe. Any books due back over the next few days will have their due dates carried over.

The forecast is set to improve over the next few days with dry and sunny spells and temperatures reaching 21C in Langholm tomorrow.

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