Schools closed and travel disrupted across Scotland after heavy snow

Hundreds of schools are shut and travel has been severely disrupted after heavy snowfall across parts of northern Scotland.

Amber weather warnings expired at 10:00 following several days of freezing conditions.

Drifting snow and ice have left road, rail and air travel impossible in certain areas of the mainland including Aberdeen, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands, while Orkney and Shetland have also been badly affected.

The Met Office has also issued a fresh yellow weather warning for most of Scotland which runs into Tuesday.

Aberdeenshire, Orkney and Shetland councils all announced that schools would also remain closed on Tuesday.

Many schools in Aberdeen will remain closed on Tuesday, but the council said some with staff living nearby might open and parents would be contacted.

Aberdeen International Airport suspended operations on Monday afternoon due to "deteriorating, extreme weather conditions".

Flights were due to resume at 18:00.

A spokesperson said: "Our teams have worked hard to ensure safety across the airport, and we continue to monitor conditions closely.

"We advise passengers to check with their airline for the latest flight information and to take extra care when travelling to and from the airport. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding."

Temperatures overnight in the Highlands fell as low as -9.3C at Tulloch Bridge.

The Met Office warned that another 2-4in (5-10cm) of snow could fall fairly widely in the north east, Highlands and Northern Isles while a few places on the mainland could possibly see 8-12in (20-30cm).

Gritting lorries are out in force across the country to treat roads as thousands return to work and school after the Christmas break.

Bear Scotland said its full fleet of 115 vehicles would be deployed in the north west and south east of the country.

Euan Scott, from the firm's north west unit, said it was doing all it could to keep routes passable despite "very challenging weather conditions".

He added: "We are working closely with partner organisations, and our winter fleet is fully deployed and will continue to treat north-west trunk roads in an effort to keep them open to traffic."

Scott also reminded road users that the yellow warning for snow and ice would remain in place until Tuesday night.

Amey, which covers the north east of the country, also said it was working at full capacity to keep traffic moving.

Tomintoul in the Cairngorms reported about 19.6in (50cm) of snow was lying in the village on Sunday evening.

In Aberdeenshire, all schools were closed on Monday.

Tractor driver Duncan Wight has been clearing the roads around Drumoak School and the Aberdeenshire village itself.

He said that in the 44 years he has been doing this, the snowdrifts are the worst he has ever seen.

In Inverurie, some residents said they felt Aberdeenshire Council could do more.

Eleanor Cardno, 73, said she had "never seen snow like it".

However, Finlay McPherson said she appreciated the council's response.

"They've done well keeping the main roads as clear as they can," she said. "The constant drift means it's a constant job and they seem to have been on that which is all you can ask."

Jim Savege, chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council, said about 200 staff had been deployed to clear roads in the region on Monday morning.

He told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme that 44 road gritters and 47 foot way gritters were involved in the operation, but some villages were "cut off completely".

Savege said the decision to close schools had been "unusual" but added: "We don't want people to be having to travel unnecessarily across the network at the moment.

"I've been speaking to some of our pupils yesterday and they are disappointed not to be in school, but I'm sure they'll be able to get back in soon."

In Aberdeen, dozens of schools were closed all day after the council initially delaying openings until at least 11:00.

More than 60 schools and nurseries across Moray announced they would be closed.

Nurseries and schools in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles were also shut.

Sumburgh Airport in Shetland remained closed, as did Kirkwall Airport in Orkney.

Ferry services have not been affected by the conditions.

Network Rail Scotland said its snowplough was operating between Aberdeen and Inverness.

It was photographed at Insch, amid "extremely heavy snow" falling in the area, which staff were working to clear.

ScotRail said services along the Highland Main Line, between Inverness and Perth, were running.

But those between Aberdeen and Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness and the Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh/Wick routes were likely to be affected.

Network Rail, which maintains the infrastructure, said trains could not run safely in snow depths exceeding 12in (30cm) unless fitted with snow ploughs.

Appealing for patience, its route director Ross Moran said: "Safety of our passengers and our colleagues is our top priority.

"We'll only reopen lines and return to normal operations once we're confident it's safe to do so".

Dr June Brown, the executive nurse director for NHS Grampian, said the weather conditions were making it difficult for staff and patients to travel.

"All vaccination centres in Aberdeenshire and Moray are closed today," she said.

"Vaccination centres in Aberdeen city and Bridge of Don, along with the Aberdeen City Community Treatment and Care clinics, are operating reduced hours."