The drainage system in Inverness has been defended as a mopping-up operation continues after the weekend's severe flash floods.

Highland Council area manager Chris Claridge said the deluge had been a "freak incident" and the drains would have coped under normal circumstances.

Parts of the city were engulfed by up to four-and-a-half feet of water.

Coastguards and lifeboat crews were called to evacuate 200 guests from a hotel and the residents of about 15 nearby homes.

I looked out and saw cars floating about in the car park - including ours - and thought my honeymoon was ruined

Andrew Torrie

Delays are continuing on many roads and on the railways, with lines affected by landslips.

Mr Claridge told BBC Scotland: "We started yesterday (Sunday) afternoon with the clearing-up when the flood waters started to drop.

"We certainly gave priority to clearing the routes to schools, pavements, that schoolchildren would have to go along but there's more to be done today.

"We had about four inches of rain falling in a very short period.

Homes and gardens were flooded

"That brought down a lot of debris and silt into the drainage system.

"Water was running off, particularly the tarmac areas that we now have around Inverness because of all the development that's taking place.

"It was really exceptional weather and under normal circumstances the drains would cope but this was really a freak incident."

A police spokesman said: "It is localised in the Inverness area. Ten miles down the road there's nothing."

'Disaster' for city

Highlands and Islands Fire Brigade said it received about 180 calls for help, mostly from people whose homes were flooded.

Sandbags were distributed to the worst affected areas, but some homes are thought to have suffered extensive damage.

Local councillor David Munro said the floods had been a "disaster" for the city.

Motorists were advised not to travel

He said: "I've never seen anything like the ferocity of the rain. It has been like a fireman's hose on full pelt.

"I can remember floods before, but nothing like this - roads have been washed away, cars have been floating down on the current and communities are cut off."

Among the 200 people evacuated from the Thistle Hotel were newlyweds Jackie and Andrew Torrie, from Alness, Easter Ross.

Mrs Torrie, 26, said: "The first I knew about the flooding was a member of staff banging on the door about 7am to tell us.

Cases salvaged

"I looked out and saw cars floating about in the car park - including ours - and thought my honeymoon was ruined.

"All our going away clothes were in cases in the car and we had were planning driving to Glasgow to catch out flight to Tenerife."

Andrew, 27, said firemen had waded out to the car and salvaged the cases, which had survived the worst of the damage.

"The Tenerife sun will soon dry us out, but at one point I thought I would be heading for honeymoon in my dress kilt outfit," he added.

Motorists were advised not to travel

Most roads had been reopened by Monday morning, but there were still problems on some routes.

A police spokeswoman said that the A82 from Fort William to Inverness was closed at Abriachan due to a landslide, but diversions were in place.

A slip road off the A9 northbound at Raigmore Interchange was likely to be closed for a week, because of damage caused by the flood waters.

The B9039 Newton to Ardersier road - the main route to the city's airport - was also closed.

Railtrack has closed the Aberdeen to Inverness line between Inverness and Nairn and the Highland main line between Inverness and Aviemore, with the latter expected to be closed for up to 14 days.

Highland Council has also set up a 24-hour helpline, on 0800 838009.