Businesses in Perth are still struggling to return to normality, more than a month after flooding ravaged the town.
The first shopkeepers within the community of Bridgend have reopened their doors to the public but for others the wait goes on.
Some may see December come and go before they can resume trading, such was the devastation wrought by July’s flood waters.
The community spirit within the trading district has helped many keep going through what has been a dark time, but many owners harbour fears that the situation could arise again.
What was described at the time by some onlookers as a “mini tsunami” swept through large parts of Perth on Saturday, July 16, as torrential downpours lashed down upon communities across Scotland.
Feus Road, Crieff Road and Fairfield areas suffered once again, while in Bridgend water poured down from the Lochie Brae and Bowerswell Road, turning Gowrie Street and Main Street into virtual rivers.
The flash flooding that followed saw fire crews from Perth, Dundee, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie and Forfar converge on the town as a deluge of water and debris swept into shops and homes as drains struggled to cope, flooding properties and forcing the evacuation of some residents.
In business for just three months at the time was Elena Costello, who owns the Yarn and Fibre Studio and Heritage Rubber Stamp Company in Main Street, Bridgend. She had been delighted with the start her fledgling business had made, only to see her shop devastated by the flood water, her stock ruined and her basement waterlogged.
Ms Costello reopened to customers at the weekend one of the first of the flood-hit businesses to do so and she has credited the togetherness and “old-fashioned” friendliness of the community for helping her get through the trauma.
She was delighted with the response from friends and customers and had a busy day’s trading, but admitted it had been a tough time for Bridgend.
“Recovery has been a slow process and many businesses are still to reopen,” Ms Costello said. “A number of my neighbours were completely flooded out and it may be as late as December before they can see any customers again.
“I lost a lot of stock as all my yarn stored downstairs was soaked and ruined and the heritage side of the business also suffered as all the wooden blocks and rubber were contaminated.
“I was lucky I had a cellar as that allowed the water to run out of the shop itself though the water downstairs was 3-4 feet deep at one point and we had to have it pumped out.”
Ms Costello added: “It was fantastic to reopen for business and I had far more people through the door than I ever expected. I’ve made a lot of friends since starting the business and they came out in force and that’s given me a real boost.”
Despite her positive outlook, Ms Costello is adamant history should not be allowed to repeat itself and has called on Perth and Kinross Council to do everything it can to avoid future flooding in the area.
“It is all very well for the council to tell us that it is our responsibility to protect our businesses but we cannot stop the flooding. The council can.”