AN emergency funding scheme has been opened for local authorities in the wake of the Beast from the East.

The Scottish Government said it will consider applications for financial assistance through the Bellwin Scheme after Borders Council requested help.

The discretionary fund is designed to help councils who face an undue financial burden as a result of large-scale emergencies.

READ MORE: Beast from the East – roads being cleared amid contuned warnings

It was recently activated in the wake of flooding by Storm Frank at the start of 2017, with millions of pounds given to repair damage in the Borders and Aberdeenshire.

It is now open for applications from all councils impacted by recent severe weather events, or those at risk from flooding as the snow melts.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: "We are committed to helping our communities remain resilient and this support will help local councils deal with any immediate and unforeseen costs resulting from the recent heavy snow falls and ongoing cold weather.

"Although we expect to have seen the worst of the severe weather, we're aware there remains a flooding risk in some areas as the snow melts.

"The Scottish Government has been holding regular meetings of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room (SGoRR) to monitor the situation and I would urge people continue to take care and to check for the latest guidance from Police Scotland throughout the day."

Meanwhile, an elderly couple and their two dogs have been dug out of their house in southern Scotland after becoming trapped by 12ft (3.6m) snow drifts around the property.

Two police officers and a mountain rescue team manged to dig them out of the secluded farm house near West Linton after they called for help on Friday afternoon.

The couple, aged 70 and 71, had run out of firewood for heating and were cut off from their coal shed by the time they were freed.

They were found to be in good health and were taken to stay with a friend, along with the two dogs.

Sergeant Davey Rourke said: "The house is in a dip so was slowly being buried in snow drifts up to 12ft in height.

"We dug down to one of the doors where there was just 5ft of snow and thankfully got them out."

Dave Wright, from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue, said he had not seen such weather conditions for years.

He added: "Quite rapidly they were getting into a dangerous situation without heat.

"They were perfectly alright when we got them out the house, they were a little bit surprised by how the situation escalated so quickly and I don't think they had experienced anything like that before, but this type of weather hasn't been seen for quite some time.

"We're obviously used to working in the mountains and hills, but we haven't seen conditions like this at ground level for a long time, it trumps 2010 and 2001 for the level of snow depth and how the drifts have been piling up."

He said: "Frozen water and supplies would have been another issue and that's why one of the messages we're pushing out is for people to check on neighbours in rural communities, particularly the older generation."

Cosla president Alison Evison said: "Scottish Borders Council requested that the Bellwin scheme be triggered and it is good to see that the Scottish Government has responded so quickly and so positively.

"Financial support for councils who have been worse hit by recent weather events and for those councils who are at most risk from flooding as the snow melts will be crucial, given the challenges already facing council budgets.

"This is how partnership working between the two spheres of government should work and it is good to see it in action.

"There must be a continued constructive dialogue to ensure that the necessary financing is always in place so that local councils can get on with delivering essential services and paying their staff appropriately whatever the weather throws at us."