In a statement, the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "Ambulances will continue to travel across the Forth Road Bridge when responding to emergencies. 

"Arrangements are being made to maintain ambulance transport of non-emergency patients to appointments using alternative routes and hospitals, as appropriate.

Image source, PA

“Our National Resilience team will be monitoring operations on an ongoing basis to evaluate the impact of the closure and maintain patient care.

Local teams are working closely with partners at NHS Fife, Tayside, Lothian and Forth Valley to mitigate any potential disruption to services for our patients."

Fife Council leader David Ross said: “To support the increased impact on the trunk roads, which are the responsibility of the Scottish government, we have cleared all roadworks from surrounding areas and have teams on standby to ensure our road networks are kept running.

“At present we have identified and dealt with immediate issues within Fife.

He added: "We are identifying areas where we can increase parking around stations and network hubs. Parking restrictions will be relaxed in these key areas and our parking attendants will be on hand to assist motorists at peak times."

Martin Reid, who speaks for the Road Haulage Association in Scotland, says the Forth Road Bridge's closure it a massive blow for people trying to get goods across the country.

He told the BBC:"Our members are bearing the brunt of this there's no doubt about that. Every time there's a delay, there's a cost attached to that and the cost must either go to the client or the haulier.

"At the minute, with all the delays there's massive cost attached to this."

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Image source, PA

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone has described the closure of the Forth Road Bridge "a scandal".

He added: "Although the repairs are necessary for the safety of the public, the fact that the decision has been taken to close it for so long, shows a complete lack of forward-thinking by Derek Mackay and the SNP government.

"The closure will have a devastating impact on Scotland’s economy, not to mention the many commuters who rely on the crossing for their livelihoods. It will no doubt cause traffic chaos this winter.

"The SNP should be doing all they can now to lessen the impact and contingency plans should now be put into action. The inspection regime also needs to be examined in an attempt to pre-empt other failures.

"Employers should be encouraged to allow staff to work from home. Advice should also be issued on staggering journeys to avoid congestion on other routes, including the Kincardine Bridge."

The BBC's Lisa Summers has told the Reporting Scotland programme that experts say repairing the bridge in three weeks is a "best case scenario".

Because of the location of the fault, only three workers can access the area at a time - something that is likely to add to the difficulty of repairs.

Commenting on the news that the Forth Road Bridge is to be closed until the new year, Scottish Labour deputy leader and Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley said it was the "right decision" given the "clear public safety concerns". 

Image source, PA

But he warned that the Forth Road Bridge was "one of the most important transport links in Scotland" and "crucial" to the economy. 

“What is vital now is that the Scottish Government, the local councils, ScotRail and all transport operators work together to try and minimise disruption as much as possible by putting in place whatever measures can be achieved at this point", he said.

What a pathetic response from Scotrail, high time we had a public railway for the benefit of passengers and not one run for the benefit of shareholders and profit.

David, on Facebook

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• Before the bridge opened in 1964 - after six years of construction - cars travelling between Edinburgh and Fife had to cross on a ferry 

• Construction of the bridge and the surrounding roads cost £19.5m, with tolls on the bridge until 2008

• Now carrying tens of thousands of vehicles every day, plans to replace the A-listed structure are under way following concerns over the strength of the ageing cables

• The new Queensferry Crossing, due to be completed by the end of next year, will carry road traffic with the Forth Road Bridge dedicated to public transport