High winds shut mountain ski area

Bad weather has forced the operators of the Cairn Gorm ski area to ask more than 200 people to leave.

High winds closed the funicular railway at lunchtime.

CairnGorm Mountain, which runs the railway and ski area, decided gusting winds at car park level threatened to leave skiers and staff trapped.

A final convoy of cars was preparing to drive down from the car park below the mountain where winds speeds have reached more than 50mph.