Big chill shuts schools and roads

The A9 was closed on the outskirts of Inverness School closures in your area A9 closed by heavy falls of snow Inside the snow dome

Schools were closed and roads have been shut as snow and freezing temperatures caused problems for thousands of people returning after the festive break.

All schools in Aberdeenshire, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway were closed, along with dozens of others around the country.

Borders and Aberdeenshire said schools would also remain shut on Wednesday.

East Lothian Council, whose schools were due to return on Wednesday, said they would all stay closed.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said about 50 of its 120 schools would reopen on Wednesday.

However, it advised parents to check its website for more information.

The council also made an urgent request to the Scottish government for priority delivery of salt to spread on the region's roads.

It said it was down to "barely one day's supply" - with the severe weather predicted to last well into next week.

Snow gates

On Monday, Fife Council said it had run out of salt, before it received a late delivery.

The Scottish government said there were "very substantial" reserves of salt available.

However, a number of other councils were also said to be running low as snow and ice continued to affect the whole country.

Snow fell across all of the country overnight and temperatures dropped to -11C at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.

Police closed the southbound carriageway of the A9 on the outskirts of Inverness on Tuesday afternoon and shut the snow gates at the Slochd and Drumochter.

Scotland's airports remained open but bad weather affecting southern airports meant passengers were advised to check before travelling to the airports.

On the railways Edinburgh and Glasgow Central trains were limited and buses replaced trains between Edinburgh and Motherwell.

There was disruption between Inverness and Aviemore while services between Aberdeen and Inverness and Perth and Inverness remained suspended on Tuesday evening.

There was also disruption at Cupar, Partick and Springburn, Kilwinning and Paisley and Lanark.

East Coast rail services were also severely disrupted.

Passengers going between London and Glasgow Central on the east coast were being advised to take Virgin Trains' West Coast trains instead.

Buses were running between Inverness and Aviemore to replace rail services because a derailed freight train continued to block the track.

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