The UK's most northerly synagogue is without a home for the festivals following serious flooding caused by a faulty washing machine.

Aberdeen's community of barely two dozen members had overseen a major upgrade of the four-floor building over the past two years. But much of the work will have to be redone given the sodden wiring and paintwork. "Everything is wet, damp and smelly," said the community's Debby Taylor.

Although the building is insured, Mrs Taylor fears a significant shortfall as cover is not on the basis of "new for old".

A more immediate worry is finding alternative premises. "The insurance company said that if everything goes to plan, we'll be up and running in two months. But it misses Yomtov.

"We are nominally an Orthodox community and our members are spread all over the place," Mrs Taylor added. "We'd need to find somewhere central."