Concern growing for missing walker

High winds have caused drifing on several roads

Severe wintry weather is causing serious disruption across northern Scotland, and isolated problems in England and Wales, including a number of sport cancellations.

The Scottish Highlands are worst affected with concern growing for a walker missing for three days as darkness fell and wind chill temperatures plummeted to as low as -15C.

A spokesman for Grampian Police said the hunt for Gordon Fortune would begin again at first light on Sunday.

"He is an experienced walker and was well-equipped and if he has built himself a snow-hole he may well still be alive," he said.

Helicopters were unable to join the search in the Glen Shee area as blizzards and high winds hampered the search.

Mr Fortune, from Aberdeen, was reported missing late on Thursday. The 49-year-old set off that morning to climb three mountains near Glenshee Ski Centre.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service has warned of a high risk of avalanches on Saturday night in upland areas in the north of Scotland.

Lightning cuts power

Electrical storms in northern Scotland also took out electricity supplies for about 700 electricity customers in an area from Inverness to Fort William, Skye and the Western Isles.

Power company Hydro Electric drafted in additional engineers to repair damage from blown fuses.

High winds gusting up to 70mph and drifting snow have also caused problems, forcing the closure of roads including the main A9 road at the Drumochter Pass and the Slochd.

Snow also forced road closures between Grantown, Tomintoul and Forres as well as the Carrbridge to Dulnain Bridge road.

Rail delays

ScotRail said train services between Perth and Inverness were liable to cancellation and delay because of five feet snow drifts at Culloden. A snowplough has been despatched to the scene.

To the south, a high tide and sea spray being blown onto a rail line near the Firth of Clyde forced train services to be cancelled between Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh. A special bus service was arranged for passengers.

The West Highland line reopened after being closed at Corrour because of a flash flood and heavy snow.

Only two of Scotland's five ski resorts were open with Cairn Gorm, Glencoe and the Nevis Range all stormbound despite heavy, fresh snowfalls, ideal for skiing.

Only the Lecht, near Tomintoul, and Glenshee resorts were operating with hundreds of skiers and snowboarders taking to the slopes.

Northern Ireland is also subject to a severe weather warning with snow and ice forecast.

Rescues across country

Twenty-two people escaped without serious injury after a train crashed into a landslide in northern England and was then hit by a coal train.

In Wales, a mother and child were taken to hospital after firefighters carried six people to safety when their cars became stuck on the flooded Dyfi Bridge at Machynlleth, Powys.

Roads were also blocked and water was pumped from flooded homes at Crickhowell, Powys.

Capel Curig in north-west Wales experienced the most rain with three inches falling in a day, but England was also affected with roads closed in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

In Surrey, more than 50 homes had to be evacuated in Cranleigh, near Guildford after a storm drain became blocked.

Sport postponements

Saturday race meetings at Ascot and Warwick were called off due to waterlogged courses after rainfall of up to an inch overnight.

Six Nationwide League football matches were also postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

The Second Division games at Wigan, Northampton and Macclesfield and Third Division matches at Brentford, Swansea and Darlington were all called off.

The Bedford v Sale rugby union match was another weather victim.