North boat cancelled and schools closed for fourth day as weather continues to cause difficulties

The weather continued to cause problems on Friday, with fresh snowfalls in the south Mainland and the north overnight resulting in another day off school for pupils in the isles and strong winds forcing the cancellation of the Hrossey sailing to Orkney and Aberdeen. She will not now depart until Saturday at 7pm when she will head straight to Aberdeen.

Although all 33 schools were shut for a fourth consecutive day, 15 of the isles’ schools had been due to take the day as a holiday in any case: Aith, the Anderson High, Bell’s Brae, Burravoe, Fair Isle, Hamnavoe, Happy Hansel, Mid Yell, Nesting, Sandness, Scalloway, Skeld, Sound, Tingwall and Whiteness.

The SIC’s gritters were out at 6am, also for the fourth day in a row. The heavy snowfall meant that roads in the north Mainland were blocked again on Friday morning, although most main roads are now clear.

Roads inspector Robert Goudie said that the gritters were continuing to clear the roads and they were “looking better all the time”.

Sumburgh Airport experienced slight delays on Friday morning but assistant manager Carole Laignel said they were hoping to be back to normal later in the day.

The Hrossey arrived into Lerwick at 12.15pm. She left Aberdeen later than scheduled on Thursday night to take into account the bad forecast, arriving at Kirkwall at 6pm before making a slow journey up to Lerwick.