A Gofundme campaign has raised more than £5,000 so far to help a Benderloch couple left homeless after a landslide flattened their new house.
The newbuild was completely destroyed after a boulder, reportedly “the size of a house” crashed on top of it on Friday.
Luckily no-one was at home when it happened.
Well-wishers from the community have rallied round to try and ease some of the devastation left by the rockfall.
The emergency appeal set a £2,500 goal but within about 48 hours, 100 donations had brought the total to £5,155, as The Oban Times went to press.
You can help the emergency appeal at https://www.gofundme.com/f/benderloch-landslide-local-couple-made-homeless
The homeowners’ friend Cieran Moran wrote on the online fundraising page that he launched: “A sudden and very unexpected landslide fell on top of Dondie and Vivienne’s brand new house which has completely destroyed and flattened the house and car. Luckily this was during the day on Friday and no-one was home thankfully. At this time of year things are hard enough but now they have nothing.”
Ardchattan Community Council said the public’s help with donations was “heartwarming”.
The contact at the community council told The Oban Times there had never been any problems with landslides at that particular point of Beinn Lora before.
“It’s not as if it was a first-time house site. There had been a little tin building there for years before without any problems with boulders. It has come as a big surprise and shock for everybody you speak to,” he said.
Police Scotland were made aware around 7.50pm on Friday December 1 of the property being damaged by a landslip. “No-one was injured and officers attended to provide assistance at the scene,” said a spokesperson.
Argyll and Bute Council said its Building Standards department had not been contacted and its Roads Service was not involved after the incident. The A828 that runs close to the property is a trunk road.