Blizzards force road closures

Blizzard conditions swept parts of central and northern Scotland yesterday, forcing police to close roads and to urge motorists to stay at home.

Whiteout conditions in Glencoe blocked the A82 and in Central region heavy snow reduced the A9 to one lane in each direction around Dunblane. Further north the road was closed. In Dumfries and Galloway - hard hit by snow earlier this week - a thaw began and emergency services were on standby in case of flooding.

In the Lake District, a climber was killed by an avalanche. He was named as Michael David Statham, 48, of West Rounton, North Allerton, North Yorkshire. The man's dog was found alive under snow a few feet from the body.