Dread alert

Babet-to storm in with 10in of rain

- Jan Disley

A RARE red weather warning was issued for parts of Britain today as Storm Babet threatened exceptional rainfall of as much as 10in.

Forecasters predict torrential downpours and high winds will bring a "risk to life" with "significant chance" of flooding.

Most at risk are Aberdeenshire and Angus but amber alerts affect much of Scotland with yellow warnings of heavy rain over northern England.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said that 250mm (9.8in) would be a "truly exceptional amount of rainfall falling in a couple of days".

He urged: "Take action to protect yourself and others." Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf warned against all but "absolutely essential" travel in the red alert area from just north of Dundee towards Aberdeen and also inland in the direction of Balmoral.