Ms McGann said it was the worst flooding seen in Riverside

Nicola McGann, her three-year-old daughter Katie and nine-month-old son Ross had to evacuate their home at about 0400 GMT.

"Between midnight and 4am the water level outside had risen by five inches and we had no power," she said.

"No-one can remember flooding as bad as this. I just hope the rain stops."

Ms McGann told the BBC's Scotland Live programme that the river had burst its banks two years ago but the water had only reached her front gate.

I'm just crossing my fingers that the rain will stop Nicola McGann Riverside resident

"The police knocked at about 10.30pm and asked me to move my car but I wasn't overly concerned at that point," she said.

"But then from midnight the water was just rising and rising."

Ms McGann's husband was working away so her brother had gone round to stay at the house.

"The water wasn't actually coming into the house at first but we took the decision that with having two young children we should try to get them out," she said.

"Not long after that the police knocked on the door and asked if we needed help."

The initial plan was to get the children out in a convoy until the family realised how deep the water was.

Underwater team

"The police underwater team was round the corner and came round with a raft," Ms McGann said. "We were taken off to somewhere drier and spent the night at a friend's house.

"My daughter thought going on the raft was a bit of an adventure."

By the time the family left at 0600 GMT the water had starting coming into the baby's room, which was recently converted from a garage.

A few hours later when Ms McGann returned to inspect the house the baby's room was under three inches of water.

"I'm just crossing my fingers that the rain will stop," she said. "And I don't know how everything is going to be sorted out this close to Christmas."