Aberdeenshire Council has vowed £4.2million to help plug a £7.6million repair bill in the aftermath of the most devastating floods to hit the region in living memory.
The local authority’s policy and resources committee has approved using £3million from the council’s winter and other emergencies fund for remedial works to help get the region back on its feet.
The money will go towards the repair of council infrastructure – with roads and bridges left badly damaged in the wake of Storm Frank.
Councillors also backed spending £1.2million on bringing 22 council homes in Ballater – which are currently being stripped and dried out – back into use.
The authority is also in talks with the Scottish Government about securing financial support from the Westminster under the Bellwin Scheme.
It is also seeking specific funding from Holyrood, in addition to the £2million handed to the council in January.
The River Dee was the first to burst its banks on December 30, with heavy rainfall leading to the rivers Don, Ury and Ythan also overflowing in the following weeks.
Some 600 homes and 100 businesses were devastated by the floods.
The council has been praised for its speedy work in reopening the Invercauld Bridge – closed due to storm damage following the floods – and the North Deeside Road at Micras, part of which was washed away into the river.