Locals rally to help snowbound motorists

Families in Auchterarder and Blackford opened their homes to casualties of the worst weather Scotland has seen in years.

Auchterarder High School, Aytoun Hall and Blackford Primary School became emergency centres after dozens of motorists found themselves trapped in huge snow drifts and blizzards on the A9.

Some drivers spent up to 12 hours in their vehicles, while police and search and rescue teams checked each car to find out if they were occupied and then took the stricken motorists and passengers to one of the emergency centres.

Other drivers chose to stay with their vehicles - for some a two-day wait in freezing temperatures in the hope the traffic would start moving again.

Representatives from the police, fire and Tayside Region’s social work departments, the 51st (Perth) Territorial Army and the council drew up plans to get food and provisions through to the towns as food began to run out as over 300 people swelled the communities.

There was praise for locals who pulled together to make life easier for those stranded. John Angus, assistant chief executive of Perth and Kinross said: “Through local efforts, all women and children were billeted out into local homes while the men remained in the halls.

“The local people even set up TVs in the halls and local shops opened all hours.”