Two people have died as storm force winds caused major disruption in Shetland.

And a ferry is adrift without power in ferocious weather in the North Sea after losing power about 150 miles east of Wick.

The men were killed in separate incidents while working in Lerwick harbour.

A crewman on board a cargo ship was hit by part of a winch while tying up the vessel on Sunday.

Later in the afternoon a second crewman was killed during the berthing of a cargo ship at the Shetland catch fish factory.

The NorthLink ferry could not make it to Aberdeen

There are thought to be 18 people on board the Norwegian ferry The Clare, which was sailing from the Faroe Islands to Denmark.

The vessel is 10 miles from an oil platform and there were fears of a collision if it began to drift.

There was also concern that the ro-ro ferry, which is laden with trailers, could start shedding its load.

A vessel is trying to attach a tow line but is having difficulty because of waves nine metres high. Another vessel is standing by.

The winds caused major travel problems during the day, with all inter-island ferry sailings cancelled.

Took shelter

British Airways also cancelled all four of its flights to Sumburgh.

A ferry bound for Aberdeen with 80 people on board was forced to turn back on Saturday night.

The NorthLink vessel MV Hrossey took shelter off the west coast of the islands.

Coastguards said on Sunday that the captain was waiting for the high winds to ease before returning to Lerwick harbour.

Scotland was affected by floods last month

NorthLink cancelled Sunday night's sailing to Aberdeen, while the northbound service was expected to leave Aberdeen six hours late.

A coastguard spokesman said the islands had been hit by force 11 gales in places, with gale warnings issued for the Fair Isle and Faeroes shipping areas.

Meanwhile, two police officers were rescued from their car after it became trapped by rising flood water.

The duo became stranded when the River Esk burst its banks near Edzell in Angus.

A helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth had to be sent to pick up the officers on Sunday morning.

Flood warning

Seven homes around the banks of the River Esk were evacuated due to the flooding.

A woman and her young baby had to be rescued from their flooded home hear Craigo, while two people were craned to safety from the upper floor of their house in the Hillside area of Montrose.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued a flood warning for the River Isla between the Bridge of Ruthven and the River Tay on Sunday.

A number of flood watches were also in force in the north and east of the country.