EVACUATED homes, power cuts, flooded roads and travel chaos have shaken Scotland as a tidal surge combined with rain and winds of more than 60mph battered the country.

Parts of the west coast were the worst hit by yesterday's storms, including towns such as Ardrossan in North Ayrshire and Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, with waves crashing over esplanades and roads and rail lines engulfed in water.

Police divisions covering Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, Tayside and Dumfries and ­Galloway have all warned travel may be hazardous and extra caution should be exercised.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency at one point had almost 40 flood warnings in place.

Power cuts hit hundreds of homes as far afield as Galashiels, Kirkintilloch, Selkirk, Cupar and Lockerbie.

Dumfries and Galloway was worst affected by the storm with numerous properties flooded along its coastline due to the combined effort of the wet weather and a Solway Firth tidal surge

Homes in the coastal ­communities of the Isle of Whithorn, Portpatrick, Garlieston and Kirkcudbright have been affected along with those in Annan, Carsethorn, Powfoot and Port William. Harbours were flooded in Garlieston, Annan and Kirkcudbright.

Three families were evacuated to a farmhouse from Queensberry Bay Caravan Park in Powfoot, on the Solway Firth. One person was evacuated from Creetown and a few families chose to leave their homes in Port William.

One man was seen swimming down the Nith in Dumfries between Whitesands and Kingholm Quay while the river was in full spate. He was later found to be safe and well, but a police spokesman said: "Those who engage in this type of activity need to appreciate that whilst they may feel confident in their ability, there are hidden dangers within the water such as trees and debris over which they have no control."

The A75 in Dumfriesshire was closed for several hours after a lorry overturned in strong winds.

Headteachers of local schools have been asked to make the authority aware of any issues that might prevent them from reopening on Monday.

The funeral of the oldest woman on Colonsay was postponed yesterday after ferry cancellations meant mourners could not reach the island.

The service for Flora MacNeill, 95, should have gone ahead at the Church of Scotland at Scalasaig, Colonsay's main village, but island registrar Kevin Byrne said her family had decided to postpone it until tomorrow after bad weather prevented the scheduled CalMac ferry sailing from Oban.

The conditions caused travel disruption, with the A78 closed in both directions between Stevenston and Kilwinning, and between Skelmorlie and Largs.

The main road through Harris in the Western Isles was blocked off over the risk of live power lines electrocuting motorists.

North Ayrshire Police last night warned owners of vehicles parked on shore front areas to check for damage to their vehicles.

There was flooding on the A747 between Glenluce and Port William, and at Carsethorn, Powfoot and Newbie.

P&O Ferries suspended its services from Cairnryan to Larne.

The Skye, Tay and Forth road bridges were barred to high-sided vehicles and speed restrictions were put in place for other traffic.

Scotrail warned train services between Glasgow Central and Ardrossan Harbour, Glasgow Central and Largs, and Edinburgh and Helensburgh Central via Airdrie may be delayed or disrupted. Replacement bus services are in place.

High winds forced the closure of Edinburgh Castle and West Princes Street Gardens. Nobody was hurt after masonry from a chimney stack fell from a building in Marshall Street near Edinburgh University.

Helensburgh residents said they were experiencing the worst conditions in many years, with the esplanade flooded and closed at various points.

Elsewhere in the UK, there remained nine severe flood ­warnings - meaning "danger to life" - for Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wales.

With more flooding expected at high tide later on Friday, the emergency services have urged the public to stay away from coastal areas.

A Royal Navy helicopter was involved in a search for missing 18-year-old Harry Martin, who had left his home near Plymouth, Devon, yesterday heading for the coastal path.

In Wales, properties were flooded and a number of people had to be rescued.

In Northern Ireland, high tides and strong winds caused some flooding in coastal areas but the tide peaked without any major flooding in Belfast.

People in St Ives, Looe and Polperro in Cornwall were protecting their homes with sandbags. Flooding also occurred in Barnstaple and Lynton in North Devon, and Kingsbridge in South Devon.