Scottish minister defends budget cuts as flood warning remains

John Swinney says flood forecasting services are 'absolutely protected' amid concerns over plans to reduce funds to environment protection agency

Flood-stricken communities across Scotland remained on alert as Scotland's finance minister rebutted claims that cuts were threatening the efficiency of the country's flood forecasting agency.

With persistent heavy rain on saturated ground causing river levels to remain unusually high and over-top in some areas overnight, John Swinney insisted that forecasting service resources would be "absolutely and totally protected".