RESTAURANT owner Filippo Madonia criticised authorities for failing to provide adequate weather warnings after he suffered flooding at his premises.

The 63-year-old, owner of Mira Mare restaurant in Helensburgh, said he had enlisted in an alert scheme run by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and normally receives text messages warning of potential flooding.

However, he said no warning was issued and he has now been forced to close the seafront premises after gales and high waves caused flooding along the coastline.

He said: "We didn't get a warning this time from SEPA, I just came down at around 9am to do some prep work and I couldn't get in. Then, when I eventually did, there was water everywhere. It must have been horrendous at around 8am so why was there no warning?"

SEPA claimed flood warnings were issued for the area at 4.15pm on Monday and Mr Madonia should have received a text at that time.