Schools shut and transport in chaos as Storm Gertrude batters Scotland

Gusts of 91mph have been recorded in some parts of the country with dangerous conditions expected throughout the day in Scotland and the north of England

A lorry overturned on the M9 near Falkirk as winds of more than 90mph have hit the west of Scotland (PA)

Thousands of homes have been left without power, schools have been shut and transport disrupted as Storm Gertrude sweeps the country.

A rare red Met Office weather warning is in place for Orkney and Shetland with dangerous conditions expected there throughout today.

Many other regions have yellow and amber warnings for strong winds, heavy rain, snow and ice.

Gusts of 91mph have been recorded in South Uist, while Inverbervie, in Aberdeenshire, and Orlock Head, in Northern Ireland, were hit by winds of 79mph.

Speeds are expected to reach around 65mph in the Borders and the north east of England later in the day and pushing 80mph in north Yorkshire.

More than 10,000 homes have been left without power in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with Scottish Hydro saying repairs in Aberdeenshire, Perthshire and the Western Isles are dependent on the weather.

Fallen trees are affecting many routes across Scotland with the Forth, Tay and Kessock bridges closed.

A number of lorries and large vehicles have toppled over in the winds, with one incident on the M9 near Dunblane.

A landslip on the A82 at Letter Finlay caused a 150-mile diversion for journeys between Fort William and Inverness before it was cleared.

Prime Minister David Cameron was caught up in the disruption on his way to Belgium for EU talks.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland, he said: “My first challenge is to get to Brussels as with hurricane Gertrude I've already had a flight problem so I'm racing across Scotland at the moment to get to Edinburgh Airport but I hope I will make it.”

Drivers also had to avoid a trampoline that had blown on to the Newtonhill flyover near the A90 in Aberdeen at around 6am.

All schools in the Northern and Western Isles have been closed, with more following on the mainland throughout the day.

Oxgangs Primary in Edinburgh was forced to shut after part of one of its walls was blown off.

Train and ferry services are also reduced.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has almost 40 flood warnings in place covering Ayrshire, Tayside, west central Scotland and the Highlands.

In Glasgow city centre, officials said roads were closed due to dangerous buildings caused by high winds.

In Edinburgh, fallen trees caused road closures on city routes during the morning rush hour and Edinburgh Zoo said it would not be opening this morning.

Additional reporting by the Press Association