Lorries and cars stranded on road

Mar 19 2013

Around 20 HGVs and several cars have become stuck on a stretch of road as heavy snow and high winds created challenging rush-hour conditions for motorists in many parts of the country.

The vehicles were stranded on the A697 in the Borders. The stretch between Greenlaw and Carfraemill had to be closed and the vehicles waited to be freed by snow ploughs.

Lothian and Borders Police said they were alerted to a number of HGVs and cars stuck in snow, two miles north of Greenlaw, at around 6am.

Kevin Sewell, of the emergency planning unit at Scottish Borders Council, said: "We've got about 20 HGVs and four cars stuck there. Once one gets stuck, the rest all get stuck. The gritters have been out all night. It's just a matter of time until we get the road cleared enough to get them out."

The road is being cleared and it is hoped the lorries will be freed shortly. Officials are said to be in constant contact with the drivers who are all said to be well.

The worst of the weather appears to be in the south-east, Lothians and the north-east, but police forces have reported relatively few other major problems on roads around the country, although some road have been closed.

Around 50 schools in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire have been shut to pupils, or closed entirely. Among those which shut their doors entirely are Ballater, Chapel of Garioch and Marykirk schools in Aberdeenshire.

Dozens of other schools have been closed in the Borders, and Woodmuir, Longridge and Fallahill primary schools in West Lothian are shut.

The Met Office has issued amber "be prepared" warnings for Lothian and Borders, Grampian, Strathclyde, Tayside, Central and Fife and yellow "be aware" warnings for much of the rest of the country.

The advisories warn of strong to gale-force easterly winds, drifting snow, blizzards and possible disruption to power supplies, are in place.