South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has expressed his thanks to local communities and agencies for their work over the past 24 hours in response to the impact of Storm Ophelia.

Dumfries and Galloway was one of the worst hit regions in Scotland with power cuts, roofs torn off and falling trees blocking roads. However, a multi-agency response kicked in, winning praise from the local MSP.

Colin Smyth MSP said: “Our region took a real battering from Storm Ophelia, but once  again local people rose to the occasion with communities and staff from the emergency services, council and power companies out in atrocious weather working to keep us all safe, in some cases through thenight. We owe them a huge thank you for their work. Obviously, it will take time to clear up some of the mess left by the storm but it was good to see the multi-agency response kick in so quickly “.