More bad weather on the way as householders cope with gas supply failure

HUNDREDS of people suffered another night without gas supplies as Scotland braced itself for more wintry weather today.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for much of Scotland, with forecasters predicting "heavy and persistent" snowfalls in the Highlands and Cairngorms tonight.

Thousands of residents in Kelso in the Scottish Borders endured a second night of sub-zero temperatures after gas supplies to around 3,000 properties in the area failed.

Council officials said engineers had reconnected around 1,400 homes. They hope to have restored the remainder by tomorrow.

Last night temperatures plummeted to minus 11 in the Highlands and snow fell over many eastern parts of Scotland.

Meanwhile, motorists faced treacherous conditions with warnings of slippery roads, blizzards and freezing fog patches in some areas.

Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "We are expecting snow over most of Scotland tonight. In the Highlands the snowfalls could be 10-20cm."

He added that temperatures could fall to around minus five overnight and may struggle to get above zero tomorrow.

Drifting and blizzard conditions are also forecast over high areas, although the snow is expected to turn to rain at lower levels by tomorrow morning.

Jim Gill, assistant emergency planning officer at Scottish Borders Council, said they were urging householders in Kelso who were still disconnected to stay in their homes so engineers could get swifter access to their gas supply.

Kelso High School and Edenside Primary will remain closed today because of the lack of heating, though the drop in centre at the high school will be open.

Heaters have been provided to Kelso residents as work continues to restore the gas supply.