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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Emergency crews battle to free motorists | Emergency crews battle to free motorists |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An amber alert for snow remains in place for much of Scotland as emergency crews battle to free the last stranded motorists from the M80. | An amber alert for snow remains in place for much of Scotland as emergency crews battle to free the last stranded motorists from the M80. |
| About 1,000 vehicles were stuck on the motorway overnight, with 300 still there on Thursday morning. | About 1,000 vehicles were stuck on the motorway overnight, with 300 still there on Thursday morning. |
| Some motorists said they had spent up to 18 hours on the road, but there are reports that traffic is beginning to move again. | Some motorists said they had spent up to 18 hours on the road, but there are reports that traffic is beginning to move again. |
| A red warning of potential risk to life expired at 10:00. | A red warning of potential risk to life expired at 10:00. |
| But people are still being urged not to travel, and roads across the country remain treacherous. | But people are still being urged not to travel, and roads across the country remain treacherous. |
| All but a handful of ScotRail services are still cancelled, with the rail operator hoping to start a "limited" service later in the day. | All but a handful of ScotRail services are still cancelled, with the rail operator hoping to start a "limited" service later in the day. |
| Most buses in the central belt have also been cancelled, but the Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh trams are running. | Most buses in the central belt have also been cancelled, but the Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh trams are running. |
| About 200 people spent the night at Glasgow Airport, where all flights have been cancelled until at least 15:00. Edinburgh Airport said the vast majority of its flights would be cancelled all day. | About 200 people spent the night at Glasgow Airport, where all flights have been cancelled until at least 15:00. Edinburgh Airport said the vast majority of its flights would be cancelled all day. |
| The amber warning has been extended until 10:00 on Friday. It had originally been due to expire at 18:00 on Thursday. | The amber warning has been extended until 10:00 on Friday. It had originally been due to expire at 18:00 on Thursday. |
| More than 1,600 schools across the country are closed - with the vast majority expected to also be shut on Friday. Parents should check their local council websites for details. | More than 1,600 schools across the country are closed - with the vast majority expected to also be shut on Friday. Parents should check their local council websites for details. |
| Elsewhere, the Scottish Conservatives have cancelled their conference, which had been due to open in Aberdeen on Friday. | |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said conditions on the M80 were improving by lunchtime on Thursday, and work was continuing to clear the backlog of traffic, particularly on the southbound carriageway. | |
| Ms Sturgeon also delivered a blunt warning to haulage firms, saying there were far more lorries on the roads than there should have been during the worst of the wintry conditions, and paid tribute to the work of the emergency services. | |
| Speaking at Holyrood, she added: "The advice today for the general public remains do not travel unless it is unavoidable. | |
| "And let me be very clear what that means. While everything possible will be done to keep roads clear and open, if you do travel during this period you do face significant risk of encountering blocked roads and possibly becoming stranded." | |
| Fresh heavy snow fell in many places overnight, with the Met Office saying some areas of Scotland saw up to 30cm (11.8 inches) of snow fall and up to 40cm (15.7 inches) in "a few places" by mid-morning. | Fresh heavy snow fell in many places overnight, with the Met Office saying some areas of Scotland saw up to 30cm (11.8 inches) of snow fall and up to 40cm (15.7 inches) in "a few places" by mid-morning. |
| Emergency services spent the night battling to keep vehicles moving on the roads, with a particular focus on the M80, which runs between Glasgow and Stirling. | Emergency services spent the night battling to keep vehicles moving on the roads, with a particular focus on the M80, which runs between Glasgow and Stirling. |
| The road became blocked on Wednesday afternoon and for much of the night, with an estimated 1,000 vehicles at a standstill at its height as eight-mile tailbacks built up in both directions. | The road became blocked on Wednesday afternoon and for much of the night, with an estimated 1,000 vehicles at a standstill at its height as eight-mile tailbacks built up in both directions. |
| Some drivers abandoned their vehicles on the road overnight, making it harder to remove them. | Some drivers abandoned their vehicles on the road overnight, making it harder to remove them. |
| Police spoke to trapped motorists to ensure they were OK and to distribute water and snacks, with a plan implemented to allow agencies to go in and recover stranded vehicles and treat the road. | Police spoke to trapped motorists to ensure they were OK and to distribute water and snacks, with a plan implemented to allow agencies to go in and recover stranded vehicles and treat the road. |
| Lesley Forster told BBC Scotland she had managed to get home after spending a "horrific" 18 hours on the M80 near Cumbernauld. | Lesley Forster told BBC Scotland she had managed to get home after spending a "horrific" 18 hours on the M80 near Cumbernauld. |
| She left Edinburgh at 14:00 on Wednesday and got back to Mollinsburn, north of Glasgow, at 08:00. | She left Edinburgh at 14:00 on Wednesday and got back to Mollinsburn, north of Glasgow, at 08:00. |
| 'Had nothing with me' | 'Had nothing with me' |
| Ms Forster said: "I had nothing with me. I had to use the water I had with me to put in to my window wipers. I was stuck for 18 hours and have never been so frightened in my life. It was freezing cold. I had a total meltdown. | Ms Forster said: "I had nothing with me. I had to use the water I had with me to put in to my window wipers. I was stuck for 18 hours and have never been so frightened in my life. It was freezing cold. I had a total meltdown. |
| "There were no snow ploughs or anything. A young lad came out of his house with a sled filled with water and a few bits of food - all he had in the house - and handed it out. I am so grateful to him. | "There were no snow ploughs or anything. A young lad came out of his house with a sled filled with water and a few bits of food - all he had in the house - and handed it out. I am so grateful to him. |
| "Once it started to get light and you could see everything round about you and you have got the reality of it, and were thinking: 'You are going to come out of this alive". | "Once it started to get light and you could see everything round about you and you have got the reality of it, and were thinking: 'You are going to come out of this alive". |
| Local residents delivered food and drinks to many trapped motorists, with Mountain Rescue personnel and other emergency service crews also involved. | Local residents delivered food and drinks to many trapped motorists, with Mountain Rescue personnel and other emergency service crews also involved. |
| Among those stranded overnight was a Megabus full of passengers. | Among those stranded overnight was a Megabus full of passengers. |
| Stein Connolly at the Transport Scotland control room said the motorway had reopened overnight - but then drivers once again became stranded. | Stein Connolly at the Transport Scotland control room said the motorway had reopened overnight - but then drivers once again became stranded. |
| He said: "You will have heard the stories about the 1,000 people stuck on the M80. We got it open and we released approximately 700 of those and then with the blizzard conditions we lost it again, with vehicles struggling to get traction. | He said: "You will have heard the stories about the 1,000 people stuck on the M80. We got it open and we released approximately 700 of those and then with the blizzard conditions we lost it again, with vehicles struggling to get traction. |
| "So it closed again and we've been working on that since. The weather does not look as if it is going to let up at all. | "So it closed again and we've been working on that since. The weather does not look as if it is going to let up at all. |
| "We are still putting the message out for today, avoid travel." | "We are still putting the message out for today, avoid travel." |
| Police Scotland told motorists to avoid the area, and to stay in their vehicles if they do become stuck. | Police Scotland told motorists to avoid the area, and to stay in their vehicles if they do become stuck. |
| Supt Helen Harrison said: "We do not want anyone to put themselves or others at risk in these conditions. | Supt Helen Harrison said: "We do not want anyone to put themselves or others at risk in these conditions. |
| "If you can postpone your journey in affected areas until after the amber warning ceases, I would urge you to do so." | |
| ScotRail has not run any services in the central belt since Wednesday afternoon, with only a handful of trains running elsewhere in the country. | |
| Managing director Alex Hynes said: "Our message today is please don't travel with us, it is extremely challenging weather conditions and the most important thing is to guarantee the safety of both our customers and our staff." | |
| Meanwhile, friends Leanne McKillop and Yvonne Davies were among those who spent the night at Glasgow Airport, where they said they have had nothing to eat and nothing to sleep on. | Meanwhile, friends Leanne McKillop and Yvonne Davies were among those who spent the night at Glasgow Airport, where they said they have had nothing to eat and nothing to sleep on. |
| Ms McKillop told BBC Breakfast: "We have been stuck here since 10am yesterday morning. The airlines basically just walked away saying it was to do with the airport. | Ms McKillop told BBC Breakfast: "We have been stuck here since 10am yesterday morning. The airlines basically just walked away saying it was to do with the airport. |
| "There are people sleeping on the floor, there were not enough blankets. There was bedding for about 100 people and there are about 500 people here. | "There are people sleeping on the floor, there were not enough blankets. There was bedding for about 100 people and there are about 500 people here. |
| "Our flight is meant to be going at 12:30 today but we don't know - it is a case of wait and see." | "Our flight is meant to be going at 12:30 today but we don't know - it is a case of wait and see." |
| This was the first time a red alert for snow has ever been issued in Scotland, and only the second time anywhere in the UK. | This was the first time a red alert for snow has ever been issued in Scotland, and only the second time anywhere in the UK. |
| Where to find the latest weather and travel information | Where to find the latest weather and travel information |
| For the latest on the roads visit listen live to BBC Radio Scotland . On Twitter follow @BBCTravelScot and @trafficscotland | For the latest on the roads visit listen live to BBC Radio Scotland . On Twitter follow @BBCTravelScot and @trafficscotland |
| Up to date forecasts can be found on the BBC Weather website | Up to date forecasts can be found on the BBC Weather website |
| In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. | In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources. |
| We have compiled a list of where you can find information on school closures. | We have compiled a list of where you can find information on school closures. |
| Below are a number of other traffic information sources. | Below are a number of other traffic information sources. |
| What the weather warning colours mean | What the weather warning colours mean |
| Were you stranded overnight on the M80? Are you stuck at Glasgow Airport? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Were you stranded overnight on the M80? Are you stuck at Glasgow Airport? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |