Cut off since New Year's Day: Recovery efforts after a week of snow

Recovery efforts are now well under way in the north of Scotland after a week of severe snow, despite a fresh warning of low temperatures and snow.

However, a new yellow weather warning for snow and ice is due to start from 20:00 and last until midday on Friday for almost all of Scotland, with "a few centimetres" of snow forecast for inland and on higher ground.

Though road clearance work is said to be progressing well, thousands of pupils have been unable to return to school - and more than 145 schools in Aberdeenshire and 11 in the Highlands will be closed on Friday.

And in Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, which has been cut off since New Year's Day, contractors finally rolled in to clear the snow.

Local resident Sarah Johnson, 66, told BBC Scotland News that a lot of people had not been able to get out at all.

"Especially living up the side roads in Sauchen, even people with four-wheel drives are struggling," she said.

"If you have got a drive like ours, we are just stuck here. That's it."

After more than a week of snow, she said people were starting to run low on supplies.

She added: "My main concern at the moment is to try and get my drive clear which is quite long.

"My husband has to get to hospital on Tuesday. Tuesday may sound a long way away but this time last week I would never have thought that this week we would still be snowed in.

"I haven't been able to get a car out in seven days now and that's a concern."

Jim Thow, of JKR Contractors, was helping clear snow in Sauchen on Thursday.

"A lot of folk have been stuck since last Friday, their fridges are bare and they need out," he said.

"They have been really grateful to see us. I've not seen weather like this since the 80s, but winter is winter isn't it?

"It's our job, its what we do, but it's good to get them out and let them get on with their lives."

Meanwhile, drivers struggled with difficult conditions on some smaller roads in Aberdeen.

Stuart Benzie, a taxi driver in Aberdeen, said: "It's the worst I've seen - without a question of a doubt. The roads have just been horrendous.

"Last night one of my colleagues texted me - his words were 'the roads are undriveable'. And his car has winter tyres and all the rest of it."

The weather is also affecting numerous bus routes in the region.

"Yesterday I was taking old people home and their roads weren't gritted at all," Benzie added.

"Not every road can be gritted, but I just would have thought outside help might have come in."

Aberdeen Council had initially said that "almost all" schools would reopen on Thursday but that message changed after snowfall over night.

In a call to parents the local authority added that it was likely that only a "small number" of Aberdeen schools would be able to open on Friday for pupils who can safely get to school.

Aberdeenshire Council said that for Thursday it would revert back to local decision-making for opening schools, following blanket closures for the last three days.

More than 160 Aberdeenshire schools have ended up closed for at least another day.

Highland Council said more than 100 schools had been affected for a second day by snow and ice. Seventy schools were closed and a number of others opened later.

In Moray, about 12 were shut.

Ministers have again heard from police, local authorities, utilities companies and other bodies as the Scottish Government's Resilience Room discussed the response to the severe weather.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that "the most severe weather has now abated" and significant work is now under way to help the hardest hit.

She said: "Work is now focusing to ensure that those who have experienced the most severe disruption, particularly the vulnerable, are being supported, with access routes and services reopened as soon as possible."

She said extra equipment including snowblowers and tractors is being provided to Aberdeenshire Council under mutual aid agreements.

Network Rail said work to clear the final section of the railways north of Brora will be carried out on Thursday.

On the roads, Highland Council said the A836 Lairg to Tongue road is shut due to drifting snow at Crask and north of Altnaharra, while Traffic Scotland said snow gates are shut at the Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar, Cock Bridge to Tomintoul, and at Bridge of Dye.

Police Scotland urged people to continue following travel advice.

Parts of Scotland have now had more than a week of consecutive weather warnings for snow and ice, with the first issued on New Year's Day.

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, as well as the Orkney Islands have been the worst hit.

BBC Scotland weather forecaster Kirsteen MacDonald said snow showers were expected to continue on Thursday.

She said: "Ice will remain a significant hazard with showers falling on to frozen surfaces, and partially-thawed snow will refreeze readily.

"Temperatures are expected to stay below average throughout the day and light showers of rain, sleet and snow are also expected.

"The coldest conditions will gradually ease later this week, with milder air expected to move in over the weekend and into next week, helping temperatures recover toward more typical January levels.

"However, wintry showers and icy patches are likely to linger, which may result in further warnings over the next few days."