In Cupar’s Bonnygate, several shops flooded.

Parts of the Crossgate were also under water, with businesses including Lloyds Pharmacy, the RBS branch and a bakery among those affected.

Other villages including Gateside, Strathmiglo, Freuchie and Pitscottie were also affected.

Roads closed were the B940 between Cupar and Pitscottie, the C13 between its junction with the A914 and C16 and the Q45 at Sandy Brae, between the A914 and A916.

Stuart Ferguson, Fife Council’s lead officer for roads and lighting response, said employees had been pulled off jobs elsewhere and dispatched to deal with the flooding.

He said the team’s initial priority was to maintain access for emergency vehicles. Sandbags had been distributed to houses, including those in Cupar’s Burnside, which was badly flooded in August.

Mr Ferguson said he had received no information that houses had been flooded.

“This came as a complete surprise,” he said.

“We are dealing with each area on a priority basis and are trying to make sure access roads are clear.”

In Pethshire, drains and burns failed to cope with the volume of water after a torrential downpour.

Emergency services said they had been called to incidents in Perth, Scone, Luncarty, Kinross and Milnathort.

The council roads department assisted in a number of cases by laying out sandbags to prevent water making its way into properties.

Among premises threatened with water backing up from a drain was the Honeypot Nursery in Scone.

Due to the intervention of Tayside Fire and Rescue, along with council staff who placed sandbags around the doors, the nursery managed to remain open.

The Tesco Extra store on Crieff Road in Perth was closed after problems were experienced with a leaking roof.

Workmen could be seen on the roof and motorists were being turned away from the store car park.

Roads in the Fairfield area of Perth disappeared under water at one stage, though the water did not floodhomes.

The heavy rain abated after an hour and householders were hoping there would be no encore.