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Village has coldest night in UK Village has coldest night in UK
(30 minutes later)
A tiny village in the Highlands has experienced the coldest night of the winter in the UK.A tiny village in the Highlands has experienced the coldest night of the winter in the UK.
Across Scotland, temperatures overnight dropped well below freezing with -22.3C recorded at Altnaharra in Sutherland.Across Scotland, temperatures overnight dropped well below freezing with -22.3C recorded at Altnaharra in Sutherland.
The remote village already holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK, -27.2C on 30 December, 1995.The remote village already holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK, -27.2C on 30 December, 1995.
The Met Office said temperatures are set to stay below zero and there is a risk of further snow in the north.The Met Office said temperatures are set to stay below zero and there is a risk of further snow in the north.
In Braemar it was -16.1C, and temperatures dropped to -13.7C in Aberdeen, -10.7C in Edinburgh and in the Glasgow area it was -8.6C overnight. Braemar in Aberdeenshire recorded -19.5C and temperatures dropped to -13.7C in Aberdeen.
The Scottish Ambulance Service has been struggling to answer emergency calls within its own target times. Around Edinburgh the overnight temperature was -10.7C in Edinburgh and in the Glasgow area it was -8.6C.
Paramedics aim to respond to the most serious emergencies within eight minutes in 75% of cases. Cold nights
But ambulances only turned up on time in 65% of cases on Wednesday due to the snow and ice and the performance figure was as low as 53% seven days ago. The Met Office said the geography of the area around Altnaharra contributed to the cold temperatures often seen there.
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Scotland the ambulance service had faced a very challenging few days. Met Office spokesman Barry Gromett said: "It sits in a glen and there is a lot of snow there, so there is snow covering, long cold nights and no wind.
She said: "I think most people will understand, as motorists find a lot of the road conditions with heavy snow very difficult, so too do people driving ambulances. "It is also in a bowl, effectively with mountains surrounding it, which means that cold air pools down at the bottom.
All our staff deserve credit for their commitment in dealing with conditions and delivering services in the face of real adversity Pauline HowieScottish Ambulance Service "Cold air is denser than warm air so it will flow down the mountain and pool at the bottom of the valley."
"But the ambulance service is working hard to ensure that that impact is minimised, prioritising emergency cases and taking a whole range of actions to ensure that it can respond quickly and to the standard that people expect it to." Hundreds of schools remained closed across Scotland.
Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "It is not surprising that in such extraordinary weather conditions response time performance has dropped temporarily, however all our staff deserve credit for their commitment in dealing with conditions and delivering services in the face of real adversity." All schools were shut in the Borders while most schools in Aberdeenshire and Moray were also closed.
Contingency plans implemented across the country include the provision of 4X4 vehicles and support from mountain rescue services, the Red Cross, Coastguard and the Ministry of Defence.
All schools remain closed in the Borders while most schools in Aberdeenshire and Moray are shut.
Schools in Highland and West Lothian council areas are not due back until Monday, however Highland Council is due to make a decision about whether the schools will open as planned.Schools in Highland and West Lothian council areas are not due back until Monday, however Highland Council is due to make a decision about whether the schools will open as planned.
Parents elsewhere are being urged to check their council's websites for local problems.Parents elsewhere are being urged to check their council's websites for local problems.
There is also likely to be further disruption to those travelling, with icy roads, some freezing fog and delays to flights at many UK airports.There is also likely to be further disruption to those travelling, with icy roads, some freezing fog and delays to flights at many UK airports.
The winter whiteout conditions affecting the UK are clearly visible in this satellite imageEnlarge ImageThe winter whiteout conditions affecting the UK are clearly visible in this satellite imageEnlarge Image
Temperatures will stay bitterly cold this weekend. Pubs and club goers are being urged to make sure they have adequate clothing and to plan their journey home.Temperatures will stay bitterly cold this weekend. Pubs and club goers are being urged to make sure they have adequate clothing and to plan their journey home.
Meanwhile, councils across the country have reported that grit and salt stocks are low but thousands of extra tonnes are being brought in.Meanwhile, councils across the country have reported that grit and salt stocks are low but thousands of extra tonnes are being brought in.
West Lothian Council said it had already used more salt and grit in the past three weeks - 12,000 tonnes - than it usually uses in an average winter.West Lothian Council said it had already used more salt and grit in the past three weeks - 12,000 tonnes - than it usually uses in an average winter.
A spokesman said it was also using whindust and ash for residential streets, which it admitted was not as effective as salt but would help the situation.A spokesman said it was also using whindust and ash for residential streets, which it admitted was not as effective as salt but would help the situation.
And Edinburgh City Council used 100 tonnes of salt on Wednesday night alone.And Edinburgh City Council used 100 tonnes of salt on Wednesday night alone.
A 42-year-old man was killed by a lorry on the A1 in the Scottish Borders as he waited for a recovery vehicle to come to his aid.A 42-year-old man was killed by a lorry on the A1 in the Scottish Borders as he waited for a recovery vehicle to come to his aid.
And a farmer was taken to hospital after a large cattle shed collapsed in Aberdeenshire. A number of cattle died in the incident.And a farmer was taken to hospital after a large cattle shed collapsed in Aberdeenshire. A number of cattle died in the incident.
Three more buildings have collapsed in Aberdeenshire because of the weight of snow on roofs. Grampian Police said no-one had been hurt in the incidents at a farm in Huntly, a dog breeders in Insch and a garage in Aberchirder.Three more buildings have collapsed in Aberdeenshire because of the weight of snow on roofs. Grampian Police said no-one had been hurt in the incidents at a farm in Huntly, a dog breeders in Insch and a garage in Aberchirder.
A Sea King stranded at Borders General Hospital with frozen gear oil/Pic: Ronnie DornanA Sea King stranded at Borders General Hospital with frozen gear oil/Pic: Ronnie Dornan
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said they had rescued about 100 dogs from the breeders' premises. A number of horses were freed in a separate collapse.Grampian Fire and Rescue Service said they had rescued about 100 dogs from the breeders' premises. A number of horses were freed in a separate collapse.
Conditions on the roads remain tricky, with the colder temperatures leading to warnings of the dangers posed by ice.Conditions on the roads remain tricky, with the colder temperatures leading to warnings of the dangers posed by ice.
Work is also getting under way on removing a derailed freight train which crashed off the tracks at the Highland village of Carrbridge on Monday.Work is also getting under way on removing a derailed freight train which crashed off the tracks at the Highland village of Carrbridge on Monday.
Network Rail said it hoped the affected line would be reopened early next week.Network Rail said it hoped the affected line would be reopened early next week.
A Nasa satellite image received by the University of Dundee shows almost the whole of the UK covered in a white blanket of snow and ice.A Nasa satellite image received by the University of Dundee shows almost the whole of the UK covered in a white blanket of snow and ice.
During First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Labour leader Iain Gray accused the Scottish government of complacency and being slow to react to the weather crisis.During First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Labour leader Iain Gray accused the Scottish government of complacency and being slow to react to the weather crisis.
Mr Gray told First Minister Alex Salmond to "get a grip" of the crisis.Mr Gray told First Minister Alex Salmond to "get a grip" of the crisis.
Mr Salmond rejected the accusation and said the Labour leader had misjudged the mood.Mr Salmond rejected the accusation and said the Labour leader had misjudged the mood.
"Iain Gray should try to rise to the occasion and get together with the all-Scotland team that is taking Scotland through this crisis," he said."Iain Gray should try to rise to the occasion and get together with the all-Scotland team that is taking Scotland through this crisis," he said.
The Scottish government said its national energy assistance helpline would be operating an extended hours service.
The service will now be available weekdays from 9am until 7pm and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.
The Energy Assistance Package is on 0800 512 012.
Are you in Altnaharra, or another area affected by the winter freeze? Send us a picture or a video showing how cold the temperature is where you live.Are you in Altnaharra, or another area affected by the winter freeze? Send us a picture or a video showing how cold the temperature is where you live.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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