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29 November 2010
Last updated at 06:07 ET
Severe winter weather in Scotland is continuing to cause disruption across much of the country.
More than 800 schools are closed from Shetland to the Borders and a severe weather warning has been issued, with snowfalls of five to 15cm forecast.
Driving conditions are hazardous in many areas and A1, the main cross-border road, is blocked near Berwick.
Edinburgh Airport is closed until at least 1400 GMT and there is also major disruption on the railways.
Several roads are closed in the north-east and the Highlands.
The A9 was closed between Perth and Dunblane but is now passable with care.
Drivers travelling from Aberdeen south are advised to take the A92 rather than the A90, which is closed southbound between Forfar and Dundee.
Many motorists had to abandon their vehicles on the road overnight.
Forecasters have warned that the cold snap will get worse this week, with temperatures plunging as low as -20C.
The coldest overnight temperature in the UK was Altnaharra in northern Scotland, which recorded a low of -16.1C.
Air as well as road travel has been affected, with Edinburgh Airport closed until 1400 GMT. Aberdeen Airport remains open but a spokesman warned of possible disruption.
A number of flights from Glasgow Airport have been cancelled and others were delayed.
And there is major disruption on the railways, with the Glasgow-Edinburgh service reduced to twice an hour.
There are long tailbacks on various roads due to motorists getting stuck and jack-knifed lorries.
There is major congestion on the A80/M80, with traffic getting stuck in the snow. And the M90 is closed south of Perth and at Friarton Bridge.
In West Lothian, the M8 is closed westbound at junction 3 Livingston.
There are HGVs stuck in the snow, and the M8 is down to one lane in places between West Lothian and Glasgow.
In the Borders, the A1 is closed in both directions at Berwick Upon Tweed and the A68 is closed at Soutra.
Most train services have been disrupted, including trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour, which will not run.
Going the other way, trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street at 00 and 30 minutes past each hour will not run.
Trains between Perth and Aberdeen are also disrupted.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
A number of school areas were taking a St Andrew's Day holiday but more than 800 others were forced to close.
All schools had been closed in Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian, East Lothian, Shetland Islands and Midlothian.
A flood at a building in Inverness which houses computer servers has brought down a website used by Highland Council to provide information on school closures.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "We've seen an inch of snow falling in many parts of Scotland every hour.
"The local authorities and our own trunk road operators have been out doing their very best but abandoned vehicles will undoubtedly cause problems.
"Much of the public transport network, while there are difficulties, is continuing to operate.
"So I think we're doing fairly well and, of course, on salt, we now have some two months of salt at intensive use levels waiting in depots across Scotland for the worst of our weather."
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More than 800 schools are closed from Shetland to the Borders and a severe weather warning has been issued, with snowfalls of five to 15cm forecast.
Driving conditions are hazardous in many areas and A1, the main cross-border road, is blocked near Berwick.
Edinburgh Airport is closed until at least 1400 GMT and there is also major disruption on the railways.
Several roads are closed in the north-east and the Highlands.
The A9 was closed between Perth and Dunblane but is now passable with care.
Drivers travelling from Aberdeen south are advised to take the A92 rather than the A90, which is closed southbound between Forfar and Dundee.
Many motorists had to abandon their vehicles on the road overnight.
Forecasters have warned that the cold snap will get worse this week, with temperatures plunging as low as -20C.
The coldest overnight temperature in the UK was Altnaharra in northern Scotland, which recorded a low of -16.1C.
Air as well as road travel has been affected, with Edinburgh Airport closed until 1400 GMT. Aberdeen Airport remains open but a spokesman warned of possible disruption.
A number of flights from Glasgow Airport have been cancelled and others were delayed.
And there is major disruption on the railways, with the Glasgow-Edinburgh service reduced to twice an hour.
There are long tailbacks on various roads due to motorists getting stuck and jack-knifed lorries.
There is major congestion on the A80/M80, with traffic getting stuck in the snow. And the M90 is closed south of Perth and at Friarton Bridge.
In West Lothian, the M8 is closed westbound at junction 3 Livingston.
There are HGVs stuck in the snow, and the M8 is down to one lane in places between West Lothian and Glasgow.
In the Borders, the A1 is closed in both directions at Berwick Upon Tweed and the A68 is closed at Soutra.
Most train services have been disrupted, including trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour, which will not run.
Going the other way, trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street at 00 and 30 minutes past each hour will not run.
Trains between Perth and Aberdeen are also disrupted.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
We now have some two months of salt at intensive use levels waiting in depots across Scotland for the worst of our weather”
End Quote
Stewart Stevenson
Transport Minister
A number of school areas were taking a St Andrew's Day holiday but more than 800 others were forced to close.
All schools had been closed in Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian, East Lothian, Shetland Islands and Midlothian.
A flood at a building in Inverness which houses computer servers has brought down a website used by Highland Council to provide information on school closures.
Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "We've seen an inch of snow falling in many parts of Scotland every hour.
"The local authorities and our own trunk road operators have been out doing their very best but abandoned vehicles will undoubtedly cause problems.
"Much of the public transport network, while there are difficulties, is continuing to operate.
"So I think we're doing fairly well and, of course, on salt, we now have some two months of salt at intensive use levels waiting in depots across Scotland for the worst of our weather."
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