Cold blast hits schools and roads (from our BBC correspondant)

Cold blast hits schools and roads Heavy snow has brought travel chaos across many parts of Scotland as winter returned with a vengeance.
The north of Scotland was in the grip of the bad weather which closed many schools and roads on Tuesday.
Aberdeenshire saw much of the snow, with more than 100 schools closed, all schools were shut in Shetland, and Aberdeen and Kirkwall airports closed.
Gritters were out in force trying to ease the conditions and police urged motorists to drive carefully.
The cold blast was not unexpected and snow clearing crews and gritters were mobilised at the first sign of the deteriorating conditions.
Drifting snow
However, travellers still faced difficult driving conditions across the north of Scotland.
In Aberdeenshire there were 141 schools closed or partially closed by 1215 GMT.
Road closures included the B974 Fettercairn to Strachan road, the A93 Braemar to Cairnwell road and the A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul road, all due to drifting snow.

Police advised motorists to avoid the A98 Banff to Macduff road.
An articulated lorry jack-knifed, a car went off the road, and the road was completely blocked. There were no apparent injuries to the drivers involved.
Grampian Police Inspector Dennis Hall said: "There are a large number of vehicles coming off the road right across the Grampian area and I would appeal to motorists to think twice before attempting to drive.
"The chances of being involved in a road traffic collision or getting stuck in very nasty weather conditions are extremely high at present and there is no sign of the conditions letting up."
A series of minor accidents coupled with slippery conditions resulted in long tailbacks on many routes in and around Aberdeen.
All pupils in Shetland were given the day off and several schools in the Highlands and in the Orkney Islands also fell victim to the weather. Five schools in Aberdeen were closed.
Areas of Angus and Moray were badly affected.
Winter continues
The bad weather hampered efforts to recover an RAF helicopter which had to be abandoned during a rescue operation in the Cairngorms on Monday night, with efforts resuming on Tuesday.
Forecasters expect the snow to continue during this week.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said that the whole of Scotland was at risk of snow showers throughout the day, but the Highlands and Grampian could be hit the worst.
He said: "It's going to be a really bitter day with lots of snow showers.
"The north coast and the hills and mountains will be the worst affected.
"The west will get some shelter but it won't take much to bring the snow. Snow showers can be expected almost everywhere."
Grampian Police echoed a national message by advising motorists to take extra care when out on the roads.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/scotland/4757820.stm