Residents and commuters hit by snowfall as Fife is put on red alert

Residents across Fife have been left reeling after some of the worst wintry weather in years sparked chaos throughout the Kingdom.

Schools across the region will remain closed today.

Heavy snowfall prompted the Met Office to issue an unprecedented red warning covering a large swathe of the region from 3pm yesterday through to 10am today.

People were urged to take immediate action to keep themselves and others safe from the freezing weather’s impact.

Thousands of commuters who made it into work were urged to leave earlier as transport options became fewer and further between as the day wore on.

But that sparked a mass scramble for buses and trains just as the weather started to worsen.

Some motorists apparently abandoned their cars in some of the region’s worst hit areas.

By early afternoon, ScotRail confirmed that there would be no trains running to or from Fife yesterday evening and also suspended all services first thing on Thursday morning.

That resulted in packed trains into Fife from Edinburgh in particular throughout the afternoon as workers tried to make their way home.

A ScotRail spokesman said it took the decision “in the best interests of our customers and staff”, adding: “Safety is central to this decision.”

Stagecoach also started winding services down in the afternoon and advised passengers that it “could not guarantee” services across Fife after 3pm.

A number of services were delayed, rerouted and cancelled throughout the morning, and all services travelling west of Dunfermline were withdrawn after 1pm.

All of Fife’s schools were closed yesterday and will remain shut today, while Fife College will also stay closed today.

Steve Grimmond, Fife Council’s chief executive, said: “We must follow the national advice and the safety instructions issued by Police Scotland.”

All theatres, museums and libraries were closed as the day wore on; Ring and Ride and Dial a Ride services were cancelled yesterday and will remain off today; recycling centres only opened for half the day; and Fife Sports and Leisure Trust also shut its facilities from early afternoon.

Bin collections were also halted from around 1pm onwards.

Householders with bins which are not full have been advised to leave it to the next collection date.

We must follow the national advice and the safety instructions issued by Police Scotland. STEVE GRIMMOND, FIFE COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE