Lorries struggle as cold spell continues

The A96 was open for most of Saturday before a jack-knifed lorry led to its closure

The cold spell has caused more problems for drivers, particularly in the north east of Scotland.

The A96 was closed in both directions for about five hours on Saturday, after a lorry jack-knifed just south of Keith. It re-opened after 21:00.

A different lorry had problems in the same area on Friday, and three other HGVs got stuck further south.

In some parts of Scotland temperatures dipped to -12.4C (9.7F) on Saturday night.

Problems on the A96 began at about 16:00 on Friday when a lorry jack-knifed about a mile south of Keith.

A jacknifed lorry on the A96 on Friday evening caused problems for drivers

The HGV was removed and BEAR Scotland said it had managed to keep the route open - but police described the route as treacherous.

A second lorry jack-knifed near Huntly on Saturday morning and two other HGVs got into difficulties near Glen of Foudland.

Conditions seemed to be improving in the north, with snow gates on the A93 at Glenshee open again.

But later on Saturday, Traffic Scotland said the A96 was closed in both directions.

BEAR Scotland said police were holding traffic, and it was sending units to the scene to help them.

Traffic Scotland confirmed that the road was clear and had reopened after 21:00.

The snow and ice is forecast to return to many parts of inland Scotland overnight on Sunday into Monday, mainly affecting higher routes and possibly causing problems for commuters at the start of the working week.

The lowest temperature this week was recorded in Braemar

A low of minus 15.4C (4.3F) was recorded just before midnight on Thursday at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

But it is far from the lowest UK temperature recorded there in January 1982, when it reached -27.7C (-17.86F).

The weather caused Transerv to cancel planned roadworks over the weekend.

Resurfacing work on the A77 Maybole North Gateway to Smithston was postponed.