Weather turns roads treacherous

Some roads experienced 20ft snow drifts

Police in Grampian and the Highlands are urging motorists to stay at home as plummeting temperatures cause treacherous driving conditions.

It follows a day of blizzards in many parts of northern Britain, which stranded drivers, brought trains to a halt, and cut power supplies.

Mountain rescuers in Cairngorm braved avalanche warnings to search for four climbers missing in the Highlands.

The two pairs of climbers were found safe in separate locations. Two men were suffering from exhaustion.

Earlier, sixteen people were rescued from stranded cars in the Highlands as heavy snow blanketed much of Scotland.

High winds have been a hazard

Drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles in 20ft snow drifts on the A9 at Caithness.

Air, ferry and rail services were also hit by high winds, rain and snow.

The west coast mainline was reopened on Saturday after being closed when a tree fell onto the line near Lockerbie, although delays were expected as it was reduced to a single track.

Elsewhere, four football matches were cancelled in the Scottish leagues.

A child was among the 16 people rescued from stranded vehicles on the A9.

The conditions forced snow plough crews and police patrols to abandon their attempts to clear part of the Wick to Inverness road and other routes in Caithness.

Police said they used four-wheel drive vehicles to reach the stranded people, who were taken to hotels overnight.

The A9 was closed from Georgemas to the Ord of Caithness and drivers were advised not to travel because of the "extremely dangerous" road conditions.

Rail delays

Disruption was also continuing on the railways on Saturday, with Virgin reporting that less than half its normal service would be running.

The company did not expect services to return to normal until 1200 GMT on Sunday.

GNER services on the east coast line were also suspended on Friday afternoon after the roof at York station was damaged in high winds.

Most train services are now running, although there are delays on the west coast route and 20ft snow drifts closed the line north of Lairg to Wick.

Police have appealed to motorists to avoid journeys

Seacat sailings between Troon and Belfast were subject to cancellation.

A number of roads in the Highlands were closed and routes in other parts of the country have been affected by snow and ice.

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: "Due to adverse weather conditions there are a number of problem areas for drivers with ice, snow and lack of visibility.

"We are appealing for drivers only to venture out if their journey is absolutely necessary."

Breathing problems

Meanwhile, an RAF helicopter experienced difficulties on Saturday as it flew to a remote cottage at Lybster near John O'Groats to help a man with serious breathing problems.

The pilot was at one point forced to fly in short bursts just above the hedgerows before the man could be airlifted to hospital in nearby Wick.

A coastguard rescue helicopter was also called out to transfer a one-year-old boy suffering from facial injuries between hospitals after weather conditions grounded the air ambulance.

The boy was transferred from Benbecula in North Uist, Western Isles, to Yorkhill in Glasgow on Saturday morning.

More snow is forecast for the north of the country, with moderate falls expected in Aberdeenshire.