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Parts of Scotland have endured a night of plunging temperatures, with drivers warned about road conditions.

Temperatures were -20C in Altnaharra in the Highlands, -17C in Inverurie, and -10C in Aberdeen.

Grampian Police urged drivers to take extra care - if they needed to travel at all - as black ice was reported on the region's roads.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said he was confident the road and rail network was well prepared ahead of Christmas.

Aberdeenshire's schools - which have been among the worst hit in recent weeks - are now closed for Christmas, but there were some continuing problems in Aberdeen.

Water damage meant the city's Mile End School was closed to everyone and Skene Square Primary closed to pupils, and others were opening late amid travel problems.

Frozen pipes

Schools in Aberdeen, Moray, Orkney and Shetland will close for the Christmas holidays on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, plumbers in the north east of Scotland have been reporting serious problems with frozen pipes in homes.

Scottish Water said about 2,300 Scotland-wide weather-related calls had been received on Tuesday, well up on the average in recent weeks.