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| Heavy snow causes roads and power disruption | Heavy snow causes roads and power disruption |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Heavy snow is causing major disruption to travel around Scotland, with thousands also facing a power blackout and the cold weather set to continue. | Heavy snow is causing major disruption to travel around Scotland, with thousands also facing a power blackout and the cold weather set to continue. |
| Many people in Dumfries and Galloway have been stuck in their cars overnight - and police are warning those in the area not to travel. | Many people in Dumfries and Galloway have been stuck in their cars overnight - and police are warning those in the area not to travel. |
| Engineers had problems reaching damaged cables as they attempted to restore electricity supplies. | Engineers had problems reaching damaged cables as they attempted to restore electricity supplies. |
| The Kintyre peninsula, Arran and the south west were worst affected. | The Kintyre peninsula, Arran and the south west were worst affected. |
| Many lines were brought down by the weight of ice forming on the cables. | Many lines were brought down by the weight of ice forming on the cables. |
| At one point, more than 20,000 properties were without power, with blocked roads and blizzards hampering the repair effort. | At one point, more than 20,000 properties were without power, with blocked roads and blizzards hampering the repair effort. |
| In some places in the south west, engineers encountered 10ft-high snow drifts. | In some places in the south west, engineers encountered 10ft-high snow drifts. |
| Emergency generator | Emergency generator |
| Some supplies were restored overnight, but customers on Arran were warned that they could be without power until Monday. | Some supplies were restored overnight, but customers on Arran were warned that they could be without power until Monday. |
| Scottish Hydro did manage to get an emergency generator across to the island and the Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick has set up an emergency soup kitchen and first-aid centre. | Scottish Hydro did manage to get an emergency generator across to the island and the Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick has set up an emergency soup kitchen and first-aid centre. |
| Hotel general manager Richard Small told the BBC: "Being the only place on the island with power has been quite eventful. | Hotel general manager Richard Small told the BBC: "Being the only place on the island with power has been quite eventful. |
| "We have a generator for one of our hotels, so everybody's descended on one hotel and one restaurant. | "We have a generator for one of our hotels, so everybody's descended on one hotel and one restaurant. |
| "So it's been going like a fair all day with all the locals and we're full of guests as we are fully booked." | "So it's been going like a fair all day with all the locals and we're full of guests as we are fully booked." |
| Several roads were closed in Dumfries and Galloway and Shauan Bythell, from Wigtown, was one of many to become stuck in the snow at about 19:00 on Friday. | Several roads were closed in Dumfries and Galloway and Shauan Bythell, from Wigtown, was one of many to become stuck in the snow at about 19:00 on Friday. |
| He told the BBC on Saturday morning: "I was driving back from Glasgow to Wigtown - it was fine most of the way until more or less Castle Douglas. | He told the BBC on Saturday morning: "I was driving back from Glasgow to Wigtown - it was fine most of the way until more or less Castle Douglas. |
| "At seven o'clock, a lorry had jack-knifed at Palnuir, so since seven o'clock last night we haven't moved." | |
| Stranded motorist | Stranded motorist |
| Mr Bythell said he had managed to get some sleep and had extra clothes, wellingtons and food in his car. | Mr Bythell said he had managed to get some sleep and had extra clothes, wellingtons and food in his car. |
| The stranded motorist said there were more than 100 cars stuck on the road. | The stranded motorist said there were more than 100 cars stuck on the road. |
| Roads were also closed in Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute and West Lothian. | Roads were also closed in Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute and West Lothian. |
| The Skye, Kessock, Friarton, Tay and Forth Road Bridges all have speed restrictions in place because of strong winds and many ferry routes are disrupted. | The Skye, Kessock, Friarton, Tay and Forth Road Bridges all have speed restrictions in place because of strong winds and many ferry routes are disrupted. |
| Ferries were cancelled between Gourock and Dunnon or Coll and Tiree, with disruption likely on many other routes. | Ferries were cancelled between Gourock and Dunnon or Coll and Tiree, with disruption likely on many other routes. |
| Scotrail said that there were no trains running between Kilmarnock and Carlisle or Ayr and Stranraer because of the snow. | Scotrail said that there were no trains running between Kilmarnock and Carlisle or Ayr and Stranraer because of the snow. |
| Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were all open - and flights were taking off and landing - but weather problems in other parts of the country meant delays and cancellations were likely. | Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were all open - and flights were taking off and landing - but weather problems in other parts of the country meant delays and cancellations were likely. |
| 'Harsh weather' | 'Harsh weather' |
| The disruption led to a meeting of the Scottish government's Resilience Room (SGoRR) to co-ordinate the response. | The disruption led to a meeting of the Scottish government's Resilience Room (SGoRR) to co-ordinate the response. |
| Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "There has been some extreme wintry weather across the UK and the snow has been particularly severe in some areas of Scotland with south west Scotland, Tayside and Argyll and Bute seeing the worst of the conditions. | Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "There has been some extreme wintry weather across the UK and the snow has been particularly severe in some areas of Scotland with south west Scotland, Tayside and Argyll and Bute seeing the worst of the conditions. |
| "Power companies are working closely with local authorities to identify vulnerable customers and are proactively phoning customers with information on the situation and offering advice. | "Power companies are working closely with local authorities to identify vulnerable customers and are proactively phoning customers with information on the situation and offering advice. |
| "On the roads, we have seen particularly harsh weather conditions with road access on the A75 and A77 cutting some communities off altogether. | "On the roads, we have seen particularly harsh weather conditions with road access on the A75 and A77 cutting some communities off altogether. |
| "At one point, Transport Scotland's operating company, Amey, had 20 pieces of plant trying to keep the A75 clear on a 96-mile section between Gretna and Stranraer. | "At one point, Transport Scotland's operating company, Amey, had 20 pieces of plant trying to keep the A75 clear on a 96-mile section between Gretna and Stranraer. |
| "We have offered mutual aid to Dumfries and Galloway Council to help them with winter maintenance operations and our operating company in the south west has diverted resources to get the trunks roads operational at the earliest opportunity. | "We have offered mutual aid to Dumfries and Galloway Council to help them with winter maintenance operations and our operating company in the south west has diverted resources to get the trunks roads operational at the earliest opportunity. |
| "According to the Met Office, the cold weather looks set to continue for some time yet, so our winter fleet of 130 vehicles will be working flat out across the weekend on the trunk road network provide gritting and road clearing operations." | "According to the Met Office, the cold weather looks set to continue for some time yet, so our winter fleet of 130 vehicles will be working flat out across the weekend on the trunk road network provide gritting and road clearing operations." |
| To access more information from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites. | To access more information from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites. |
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