Residents on Arran have spoken of some of the worst conditions they have ever seen, as hundreds of homes remain without power since heavy snow blacked out the whole island.
Snow and gales blasted the west coast of Scotland four days ago, damaging power lines and plunging 18,000 homes and businesses into darkness, with Arran in the Firth of Clyde suffering a complete blackout.
The team effort of those involved to reach people stranded in their homes as roads became blocked by huge snowdrifts has been praised.
Barbara Crawford, who owns the Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot on the west of the island, said: “We had been the only place set up with a generator in the west coast, so we have electricity and have become the hub for people to come and get some food and keep warm.
“We were completely shut off, with the roads to get here impassable, but we got a helicopter delivery of blankets, flasks and torches to the hotel. We’ve opened our shower facilities for people in the local community to use and the mountain rescue team who have been co-ordinating from here.
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“We’ve also had a team of doctors and care workers here and people have had to come to the hotel to see them.”
A group of students from Cambridge who were staying at the hotel were forced to stay an extra two days because they could not get to the ferry.
Ms Crawford said: “I’m sure it was a worrying time for their parents but we finally got them away after we got together 10 or 12 locals with 4x4s to take them to the ferry along the road round the south of the island after it had been cleared.
“It has really been a team effort to make sure everybody in the area who was cut off has been looked after. We now have around 30 or 40 people in the hotel who are all keeping warm.
“The hotel has been in the family for 58 years and neither me nor my husband Robbie have ever seen anything like this.”
Willie Gibson, leader of North Ayrshire Council, paid tribute to the “great team effort” of those involved in helping to restore power, clear roads and care for others on the island over the weekend.
“Hundreds of council staff, partners and volunteers have been working around the clock in truly dreadful conditions all weekend to help in any way they can.
“Their efforts deserve huge recognition as we continue to tackle some of the worst conditions ever witnessed on the island, with snow drifts of up to 15ft in some places.
“We at North Ayrshire Council are not surprised at the incredible level of community spirit which has been shown on Arran over the past few days and we know that everyone will continue to pitch in and do whatever they can until normality has been restored.”
Emergency services and engineers reached all parts of the island by yesterday afternoon, helping to keep roads clear and run generators and mobile catering units.