A �500,000 flood defence scheme had just been installed

On 13 December 2006, more than 40 people had to leave their homes as torrential rain caused problems.

A �500,000 pounds flood prevention scheme had been installed just three months earlier.

Local people have said that not enough has been done to protect them from any future extreme weather.

Dawn Ramage, from the Flood Action Group, said: "As a temporary measure you can see the small wall that they've put back.

"We were told as a matter of urgency that this would be raised up to the design level, because it's below the level, and we were told that in February.

"We've now been told by the council they will not start work until April, 15 months after we were flooded."

'No home'

Local pub owner, Anne Rowse, is �200,000 out of pocket in lost revenue and repairs and her family still live in temporary accommodation.

She said: "Looking back over the last year, the impact on my life has been horrendous.

"We've just lost every part of our lives, no business, no home.

"I just don't feel I've got anything left, I've got no foundation to build on."

Perth and Kinross Council has defended the construction of the flood prevention system and has pointed towards an expert review which suggested the design of the defences was adequate.

More than 40 people had to be evacuated from their homes

It said the permanent repair of the scheme will reinstate the designed level of protection.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has also come in for criticism from locals for not clearing out a village burn.

Chris Spray, from the agency, denied anyone has asked for permission to clear it and said it may not actually help.

He added: "Clearly dredging the burn will, in the very short term, provide a little more extra space for water to flow.

"But in the long term we actually need to know where the water came from, where the sediment came from that caused things like build-up.

"They're working on a model now for the Milnathort area and that model will help us answer exactly those questions.