The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Icy ordeal for pupils as bus breaks down
Roads: School bus halted by black ice
Pupils were left stranded in the cold after a Highland school bus came to a standstill amidst treacherous evening road conditions.
The bus serving Plockton High School was travelling on the back road between Plockton and Achmore when black ice brought it to a halt yesterday.
A gritter was drafted in to help with the rescue efforts but, as conditions worsened, it too was forced off the road.
The S1 to S6 students onboard the bus were escorted on foot by their bus driver to Achmore – about a mile away – before safely boarding a replacement bus bound for home.
A concerned relative, whose sister was aboard the bus at the time, said: “I would like to praise the actions of the bus driver.
“The road itself is not a priority gritting route but I think in future it should be because that is the route the bus usually takes.”
Motorists have been cautioned to take extra care on roads as low temperatures continue across the north and north-east.
The Met Office said Monday night had been one of the “coldest nights across the UK”.
Temperatures of -3C were recorded in Dalganachan and Scardroy yesterday, while it was colder still in Glen Affric.
The Met Office recording stations near to the youth hostel picked up a temperature of -6C.
Scattered heavy showers overnight made for difficult morning conditions – and they are likely to continue, for a few days at least.
A yellow weather alert for ice remains in place for parts of the Highlands and islands.
Aberdeen will experience a cold frosty start once more today, leading to a dry day with spells of sunshine.
The chilly starts have come with a warning from police to motorists after a man, 57, was charged with dangerous driving.
His BMW crashed into traffic lights after he began driving while its windscreen was allegedly still frosted over.
The incident involved two vehicles and took place in Clarkson Road in Broxburn, West Lothian, shortly before 9.15am yesterday.