Dumfries and Galloway Police have advised residents of five areas to evacuate after the River Nith burst its banks.

Storm Frank has caused serious flooding across much of Scotland this morning and the situation has escalated in Dumfries.

An urgent message on the police force's website around 1pm told residents of Whitesands Corridor, Nith Place, Kingholm Quay, Kelton and Glencaple to move their possessions to higher levels and consider evacuation.

A rest centre has been set up at the town's Ice Bowl.

In pictures: Storm Frank causes havoc across Scotland 

The statement read: "We are advising that people with private properties in the following areas start to move possessions to higher levels and recommend evacuation.

"This will impact properties in the following areas: Whitesands Corridor, Nith Place, Kingholm Quay, Kelton and Glencaple.

"A rest centre has been set up at Dumfries IceBowl."

Earlier, Dumfries and Galloway Council had cautioned of the risk of flooding to land and property from rivers in the area, which was expected to result in widespread disruption to travel and infrastructure.

Locations particularly at risk included the Cree valley, the Nith valley and smaller waterways around the Galloway hills. Peak water levels were expected to occur from this morning onwards.

Some residents had been evacuated the night before from low-lying properties in Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, in a pre-emptive operation ahead of expected flooding from the River Cree.

The council also cautioned that flooding at the Whitesands area of Dumfries was predicted to exceed levels of flooding seen in the area in 2009, 2013 and 1982.