After two days of persistent heavy rain, a stream turned quickly into a small river on Main Street when the Kingslaw Burn burst around 11a.m.

As water crept to within six inches of front doors, the fire service started emergency pumps just in the nick of time.

Local councillor Jim Young commented: "The water was two feet deep and the road had to be closed off. Luckily it did not breach the houses.

"Grounds maintenance workers from Fife Council investigated the burn and found that somebody had dumped a carpet in front of a grill used to block large objects getting into the water.

"I would wring the neck of the person responsible for this. It endangered people in their own homes and the lives of workmen who then had to unblock the system."

Praising the workmen and firemen for a "sterling job", Cllr Young said he had been in contact with Fife Council to discuss ways to ensure that such an inident couldn't happen again.