Scotland braced for high winds

High winds are expected across the country

Gale-force winds of up to 60mph are set to hit parts of Scotland, weather forecasters have warned.

Power firms, emergency services and airports were bracing themselves for high winds, which were set to reach south west Scotland on Friday morning.

The extreme weather will move to the central belt by midday before heading to the north east in the evening, the PA WeatherCentre said.

A spokesman said the gales were forecast to hit Ayrshire at around morning rush hour, moving on to Glasgow by midday and Aberdeen by evening, before barrelling into the North Sea.

Dumfries and Galloway was set to feel the brunt of the weather because the strongest winds were located to the south of such storms, forecaster Paul Knightley said.

Response plans

Scottish Power said its engineers would be working throughout the night to ensure that the network could withstand the worst of the weather.

The electricity firm will be co-ordinating its response to any power lines damaged by the extreme weather from a control room in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

Bosses at Prestwick Airport, which is directly in the path of the storm, said they hoped no flights would be disrupted.

The airport's two runways, which run at 100 degree angles, allow planes to land with the wind and limit turbulence, they said.

BAA Scottish Airports, which runs Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports, said it was making contingency plans.

Police forces in Dumfries and Galloway, Strathclyde and Grampian have advised householders and motorists to be aware of the weather warnings.