Snow and ice closes schools in Highlands and Moray
- Published
Thousands of pupils are off school in the north and north east due to travel disruption caused by a heavy overnight snowfall.
In the Highlands, 21 primaries, 15 nurseries and six secondary schools were shut.
Seventeen schools have been closed in Moray.
The A96 was closed for a time between A95 Banff Road at Keith and the B9022 at Huntly due to hazardous driving conditions.
In Moray, a gritter came off the road near Drummuir.
Moray Council said no-one was hurt in the accident.
A spokesman said: "Our gritter teams are out in all conditions endeavouring to make the roads safer for drivers, but as no-one grits the roads for the gritters there will be mishaps.
"This vehicle has slid into a ditch, thankfully the driver suffered no injuries. Once we have pulled the vehicle out we can assess any damage."
Driving conditions on the A9 just north of Inverness were difficult earlier on Monday morning.
There had been a Met Office yellow "be aware" warning of snow and ice affecting the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and parts of central Scotland.
The warning was in place until midday.
Primary and secondary schools in Inverness, Grantown on Spey and Kingussie were among those closed in the Highlands.
More than 7,000 children were affected.
Head teachers made the decision to either shut or partially shut their schools when snow and ice made travel to school hazardous, or affected power supplies.