Clear up under way after high winds across north of Scotland

A caravan was blown across the carriageway of the A9 in Sutherland

A clear up is under way after gale force winds caused power cuts, travel disruption and damage to property.

Power company SSE Networks (SSEN) said some of about 200 of its customers in the north of Scotland were still without electricity on Tuesday morning.

And in Moray more than 140 properties were unable to use landlines to make 999 calls after the stormy weather hit the Orton exchange area.

A Met Office yellow warning for high winds was lifted at 06:00 on Tuesday.

SSEN said about 200 properties across the north of Scotland were left with no power following Monday's high winds and engineers were working to restore supplies to those still affected.

In a separate incident, a power cut affected about 400 properties in Ballater and Braemer after a tree fell down on an overhead power line at about 04:00 on Tuesday. About 60 of these customers who are still without electricity should have their supply restored by 11:00, SSEN said.

• Police warn of gales affecting travel

As gusts reached 75mph on Monday, police urged drivers to take extra care on the roads.

Ferries on the west coast were disrupted and the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness was closed to most staff.

The Dornoch Bridge was closed for a time after a static caravan was blown on to the A9 near the crossing.

The roof was blown off a shop in Thurso.

Firefighters were called to a shop in Thurso when the building's roof was blown off.

And video posted on social media showed a "sand storm" whipping up on the Caithness town's beach. Cars could been seen slowly driving through the storm as it swirled down roads and streets.

Steve Moir heard this tree fall close to his home in Aberdeen in the early hours.

SSE said thousands of customers in north east Scotland were affected by power cuts, including 2,100 properties in Aberdeen and 1,200 in Pitmedden and Udny in Aberdeenshire.

Power cuts also affected Fyvie, Collieston and Hatton and Fochabers and Garmouth.

Meanwhile, police asked those affected by the problems at the Orton exchange to use a mobile phone to make any necessary emergency 999 calls.

BT said later that the service was restored at about 04:45 after the fault was repaired.

Officers also repeated their advise to driver to take additional care on the roads but they said they were not aware of any roads blocked by fallen trees.