Aberdeenshire Council has declared a "major incident" as snow continues to grip the north east of Scotland. Hundreds of schools remained closed across Scotland on Tuesday, including all in Aberdeenshire, Orkney an d Shetland.

AMBER weather warnings are in place in parts of Scotland, forecasting ‘heavy snow’ and travel disruption – while yellow warnings for ice cover much of the UK. Schools in

On Tuesday afternoon, Aberdeenshire Council said that a “prolonged period of significant impacts” had necessitated the decision.

Bosses at Aberdeenshire Council confirmed they were looking at a prolonged period of significant impacts to travel and public services.

Traffic Scotland said the snow gates on the A93 Braemar-Glenshee, A939 Tomintoul-Cockbridge, B974 Cairn O’Mount-Fettercairn in Aberdeenshire and at the Bealach na Ba pass on the Applecross peninsula in the Highlands were shut on Friday morning.

Sky's Scotland correspondent has been speaking to people in Aberdeenshire, who are dealing with another day of heavy snowfall. Some have been snowed in their homes since New Year's Day.

Hundreds of schools in Scotland remained closed on Wednesday as snow and freezing temperatures continued to hit most parts of the UK.

Snow and ice were expected to continue impacting northeast Scotland overnight from Wednesday, January 7, into Thursday morning, as hundreds of schools remained closed across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray,