Inside amber zone where it kept snowing and snowing

People travelling the A9 through Caithness and Sutherland on Wednesday have shared images of the snow that blocked the road for hours.

Some motorists became stranded for several hours between Helmsdale and Dunbeath because of heavy snowfalls and drifting snow.

The Met Office had issued an amber warning for wintry conditions for the north Highlands, Orkney and Shetland.

The snow gates at Helmsdale were closed overnight. They were opened early on Friday morning.

The A9 is a trunk road linking parts of Caithness and Sutherland with Inverness and beyond.

One of those travelling the route on Wednesday, Chris Malley, said police, gritter drivers and local farmers did an amazing job getting motorists through.

Jewellery designer Patricia Niemann, who lives in Berriedale, said: "It just kept snowing and snowing. It was a whiteout."

The Navidale House Hotel in Helmsdale has been closed for renovations, but the owners managed to get enough rooms ready to offer nine people stuck at the village's snow gates a free night's stay.

Among those taking up the chance were young couple trying to get home and delivery drivers.

The hotel's Darren Minton said: "We managed to get half the hotel ready.

"It was a mad few hours for us to get the place in order due to the renovations, but we managed to get it done.

"It wouldn't have been right to have those rooms empty while people were freezing on the road."