Police report that many roads across the region are now affected by Ice and Snow motorists are asked to carefully consider whether their journey is really necessary.

Roads around the Stranraer area appear to be particularly bad.

Residents and business premises have been dealing with the aftermath of yesterday’s serious flooding of the Whitesands in Dumfries (film courtesy of David Slater):

Here’s the latest on yesterday’s river Nith flooding in Dumfries:

The Whitesands and Irish Street have re-opened.

Bus services to and from the Whitesands have resumed.

In an effort to assist businesses, only the riverside car park will remain closed – access has been given to the shop side car park.

Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service have attended affected businesses on the Whitesands to pump water from their premises at the business’s request.

The Emergency Response Team remains on-site and is doing what it can to minimise disruption at the Whitesands. However, with more severe weather predicted for this afternoon, the currently situation is likely to change.

Police report that many roads across the region are now affected by flooding and motorists are asked to carefully consider whether their journey is really necessary. There appears to be no let up in the wind and rain at present and many roads are experiencing flooding, with a number impassible due to the depth of the water. Police are working with Council Roads Staff in an effort to address these roads. Drivers coming across floods on a road should consider carefully whether they can actually get through the flooded area. Care should always be taken when coming across deep water on a road, and if driving through a flooded area then they should do so slowly, and on exiting the flood, brakes should always be tested.

In Strathclyde the northbound A74(M) road is flooded at junction 14 and police are in attendance to assist traffic. Lanes 1 and 2 are closed with all traffic going onto lane 3.. Police in Dumfries and Galloway are assisting by slowing northbound traffic before it reaches Strathclyde. Again the area should be avoided if possible, and delays northbound are to be expected.

The Whitesands in Dumfries are still flooded.

Video footage of today’s rising waters (coutesy of David Slater):

Police are warning of the operation of bogus workmen in the region today, Wednesday 23 November after an elderly man was approached in Lockerbie by men offering to repair solar panels on his roof for the sum of £3000. The workmen were dismissed by the man when they couldn’t provide any identification. In another incident presently being investigated, this time in Dumfries, staff at a local bank alerted police after and elderly man attempted to withdraw a large sum of money from his account, to pay workmen who were repairing his solar panels. Police were called and the matter is currently being investigated.

Police warn of the dangers of dealing with cold calling workmen whom they don’t know and ask that should anyone call seeking to do repair work to solar panels then the local police are contacted through 0845 600 5701.

Dumfries will celebrate the big switch on of its 2011 Christmas Lights display on Sunday 27th November following a full afternoon of musical entertainment from the Plainstanes performance space.

The programme

1.00 pm: Christmas carols

2.00 pm: Maurice Sutherst and Elaine Erskine, locally based singer songwriters presenting a selection of their contemporary ballads.

3.00 pm: Lorraine McCauley and the Borderlands, fresh from an extended tour in Ireland and recording for the BBC Lorraine will present her lyrical and haunting songs to a modern folk accompaniment.

3.45 pm: Panto stars; Katrina Bryan, best known as Nina from the hit CBEEBIES show Nina and the Neurons and Leah Macrae, Julie from BBC’s Gary, Tank Commander will appear on stage to promote the DG One pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.

4.00pm: Man at the Window, Scotland’s hottest reggae outfit will have the crowd bouncing with their infectious brand of musical sunshine.

5.00pm: Provost Jack Groom will switch on the lights with a phalanx of royal assistants; Queen of the South and the Princesses Beauty and Kind Heart not forgetting an early appearance of Santa Claus.

The annual exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society (Scottish Region) is now on show at Stranraer Museum. This is a chance to see some of the best in Scottish contemporary photography.

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853 ‘to promote the Art and Science of Photography’, a mission it continues to this day. The Society’s Scottish Region organises events across the country and each year an exhibition of members’ prints travels to venues throughout Scotland.

The 2011 exhibition comprises 40 black and white, sepia and colour prints. Subjects include landscapes, portraits and natural history.

Also on display at the museum is a selection of prints produced by members of the Stranraer Camera Club. A number of these prints are for sale.

The exhibition runs until 30 December and admission is free.

One of the lorries from the Coke ad was in town today – or at least at the Cuckoo Bridge retail park. The tour manager explained to Alive Radio that they have a fleet of three trucks, which appeared on the ad and are touring the UK until 23rd December. One however spends most of its time outside the O2 Arena in London, but the others have a busy schedule around towns and cities. “Coca Cola has strong links with Christmas”, he said, explaining the reason for the profile raising tour.

Coca-Cola staff took photographs of people by the lorry and then issued pin codes so they could download the images from the website.

Police in Dumfries have released more details about the serious assault which took place in Buccleuch Street, Dumfries around 1850 hours on Saturday 19 November 2011.

A 51 year old man from Dumfries was seriously injured in the assault and as a result is currently being treated in the Intensive care Unit at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for head injuries. As a result a 23 year old man from Dumfries has been arrested and will appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court on Monday 21 November 2011 in relation to this incident.

Buccleuch Street was sealed off after the incident while a full Scene of Crime examination was carried out.