SNOWSTORMS this afternoon brought yet more winter chaos Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Dozens of schools in the area were forced to close their doors and a number of crashes were reported as bad weather closed in.

The chaos came as a weather expert warned over the threat of six inches (15cms) of snow falling in parts of Aberdeenshire.

On the roads, a woman was taken to hospital after an 18-tonne lorry and a Volkswagen Polo collided on the snow-covered B999 Aberdeen to Potterton road at 11.45am today.

A Grampian Police spokesman said: “The crash happened near Murcar roundabout.

“Injuries are thought to be minor.”

In a separate incident emergency crews were called to a two-vehicle smash on Jesmond Drive in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen.

Both drivers were uninjured.

And two cars collided on the A98 Aberdeen to Macduff road, just south of Macduff at 6.25am today.

A 40-year-old man suffered minor injuries.

Hundreds of pupils were forced to stay home as more than 40 schools across Aberdeenshire closed their doors.

The Met Office warned of heavy snow as the area was named the coldest place in the UK overnight with the mercury dropping to -18C (0F) in Braemar.

A Met Office forecaster for Aberdeen today said: “We can expect to see scattered snow showers throughout the day and tonight. We could see about 5.9in (15cm) of snow along the coast towards Fraserburgh and Moray.”

Meanwhile, a car ploughed in to a wall outside an Aberdeen hotel on King’s Gate at around 11.40am today.

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