BRITAIN: Up to 50 people who had been stranded in Scotland last night after their vehicles were cut off by two landslides were airlifted to safety, police said.
A Royal Navy helicopter was scrambled to the village of Lochearnhead, around 46 miles from Stirling in central Scotland.
Mr Michael Mulford, spokesman for RAF Kinloss, said around 50 people had been trapped in 20 vehicles on a road north of the village, including a bus which was reportedly carrying Belgian tourists.
Residents had reported serious flooding in the popular tourist area after more than two hours of torrential rain.
The helicopter was sent from RAF Kinloss, which co-ordinated rescue efforts in the flood disaster at Boscastle, Cornwall.
Mr Mulford said:"At about 6 p.m. we had reports of a landslide and flooding near Loch Earn.
"First reports suggested 20 vehicles had been swamped and the emergency services were unable to get through because of the conditions.
"At the moment it looks like the only way in is by helicopter." Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales yesterday said he was horrified at the extent of devastation in the Cornish village of Boscastle after he visited the flood-torn site.
He promised a substantial donation from a Duchy of Cornwall fund to help local people and described the emergency services as "amazing".
Damage estimated at millions of pounds was caused when torrential rain led to a flash flood several feet deep sweeping through the north Cornwall beauty spot on Monday.
Prince Charles interrupted a private break in Scotland to travel to the village of 800 people, though it is not part of his Duchy of Cornwall estate.
He met members of the emergency services and others involved in the huge clean-up.
He also had a private meeting with dozens of residents in the village hall, which became an emergency reception centre on the night of the disaster.
A small group of residents were taken to their homes to see if they could salvage any belongings.
It is not known how long it will be before they can go back permanently. - (PA)
Nine people died in violent storms that swept France overnight and yesterday, and fears of falling trees forced Paris to close its parks and cemeteries, interior ministry and other officials said.
Rescue services backed up by helicopters searched for three more missing people amid complaints that holiday-makers had ignored red warning flags alerting them to the dangers of heavy seas, flooding and gale-force winds.