About 13,000 people in the north of Scotland are being warned to boil all drinking water after the area was hit by torrential rain.

It is feared that flooding in the Black Isle and Dingwall areas may have contaminated supplies.

Scottish Water said it could not guarantee that water from the Assynt water treatment works was free from harmful bacteria.

Water from the plant is said to be "highly coloured".

Areas affected

Dingwall Conon Bridge Maryburgh Evanton Alness Strathpeffer Contin Muir of Ord Culbokie Munlochy Avoch Fortrose Marybank Tore

Ken Oates, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Highland, advised Scottish Water to issue the precautionary boil water notice.

The water authority said parts of the Black Isle were affected with the exception of Cromarty, Rosemarkie, and North Kessock Village.

Scottish Water has issued advice to its customers:

• Use boiled water for cleaning teeth, preparing food, washing fruit, salads, etc, making ice cubes and for cleaning dishes, utensils and kitchen surfaces

• Prepare babies' feeds using cooled, boiled tap water. Do not use water that has been boiled several times. If bottled water is used for making up babies feeds, do not used water labelled "natural" mineral water

• Bottled water should be brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using fizzy water unless boiling has removed all the fizz.

Experts are also telling customers not to let pets drink the water.

All drinking water must be boiled

Only boiled water should be used for first-aid and hygiene.

However tap water can be used for washing and bathing.

To get the message over, loud-hailer vans are touring the bigger towns and leaflets are being delivered by Royal Mail.

Customers with special needs can 'phone for advice: Helpline number 0845 600 8855.

Joe Moore, Scottish Water's general manager for the north west area, said: "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused but safeguarding public health must always be our first priority.

"Our engineers are working round the clock to restore normal service as quickly as we can."