Ice and heavy snow warning for Highlands

Snow has affected the Highlands since before Christmas

A warning of heavy snow and freezing temperatures affecting the Highlands has been issued by the Met Office.

Forecasters said accumulations of 5cm should be expected, but reaching depths of 10cm in higher areas.

Parts of the Highlands - including Inverness - have been affected by snow and ice since just before Christmas.

Schools on Lewis and Harris will not reopen on Tuesday as planned because of ice. Playgrounds at the schools have been deemed too dangerous for pupils.

Highland Council said conditions over the last 16 days were among the most severe its staff had dealt with in 30 years.

Northern Constabulary said the unclassified Kishorn to Applecross road was closed, but other routes were passable with care.

Nice weather if you're a snowman

The Met Office said: "A band of occasionally heavy snow, falling as rain or sleet on the immediate coast, will move south across the northwest Highlands this afternoon and will be followed by further snow showers.

"Widespread ice is also expected to add to the difficult conditions."

Snow has damaged properties across the Highlands.

Icy risk removed from above village streets

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Over the past two days crews from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service have been called on to help a farmer clear snow so livestock could be rescued from a collapsed building in Fortrose.

In Inverness, firefighters also salvaged household items from a conservatory crushed by snow sliding off the roof of the house it is attached to.

They also removed large icicles from properties in Kingussie.

On the Western Isles, local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said it had stocks of rock salt to last another few days and was expecting a fresh supply of 2,500 tonnes by the end of the week.

Gritter crews have been giving priority to main routes.

Highland Council is due to take delivery of fresh stocks of salt by boat from Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

In the Highlands, schools do not open until next Monday.