Snow and ice cause traffic delays across Scotland

The snow has meant thousands of pupils have got another day off school

Snow and ice are continuing to cause travel problems on all routes across Scotland.

The westbound M8 was closed for a time at junction 4 to allow gritting, creating significant tailbacks.

Earlier the M8 in North Lanarkshire was described as "treacherous" due to thick ice, which also led to long delays.

Poor weather has meant delays and cancellations on many trains. Edinburgh Airport was closed all morning, causing delays.

About 54 homes in Kinloch Rannoch lost power at about 1800 GMT but Scottish and Southern Energy engineers were hoping to have supplies restored by the end of the night.

The UK has been experiencing the earliest widespread snowfall since 1993.

Temperatures plunged to -13C (8.6F) in Kinloss, Moray, which was the coldest place in the UK overnight.

Early morning blizzard conditions across central Scotland led to massive tailbacks on major roads.

Councils in Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross, West Lothian, Moray, Dundee, Midlothian and the Borders said all of its schools remained closed on Tuesday.

In Edinburgh, Napier and Heriot Watt Universities were closed. The Heriot Watt university's Scottish Borders campus is also shut.

Edinburgh Airport reopened at noon, following its closure on Monday.

Despite forecasts for further snow, airport officials said they were hopeful it would remain open.

On the roads, all motorways and main routes were open.

In Aberdeenshire, several roads remain closed, including the A939 Ballater to Corgarff road.

In Perthshire, heavy snow on the A93 means the road is closed between Hatton Road in Blairgowrie and the A924 in Bridge of Cally.

In Fife, police said the A92 has hazardous driving conditions between Halbeath in Dunfermline and Newport-On-Tay.

Poor weather conditions are also causing delays and alterations on many train routes.

Train services at Glasgow Queen Street were being disrupted due to signalling problems.

A ScotRail spokesman said: "Across Scotland, our contingency plans are holding up well and the vast majority of services are running.

"However, we are still advising people to allow more time for their journey and to be prepared for short notice delays and cancellations."