Scotland's weather: Clean-up operation begins A massive clean-up operation is underway across Scotland after the severe Arctic storms. Snow and rain continues to affect parts of the country, particularly the north, but the wild winds which saw gusts of 142mph have now transferred across the border and parts of England are being battered by gales and heavy rain. Transport services are returning to normal, with the majority of trains back running after the entire Scottish network was closed for the first time in eight years because of trees, debris, and a trampoline. Ferry operators said most sailings were also running, though passengers should still expect delays on some services and should check before heading to ports. It was a similar scenario at the major airports. Thousands of homes are still without power, but engineers have been working around the clock in a bid to get everyone back with mains electricity by the end of Friday. There are currently still around 8,000 households without power across the Lochaber, Badenoch and Strathspey, Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland areas. There was about 130,000 homes blacked out at the height of the storm. A spokesperson from SSE said: "Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution is working closely with community and resilience groups in the affected areas and welfare vans have been deployed to provide hot water, charge mobile phones and provide hot foot and drink. Outbound calls continue to be made to our most vulnerable customers and generators are being provided to connect Care Homes and other priority locations. A yellow warning for snow continues in Grampian, Highlands and parts of Tayside with Police Scotland are warning drivers to beware of the conditions, with drifting snow causing blizzard conditions. The snow gates at the Lecht were also shut. All schools in Shetland remained closed, except on the island of Skerries. A scattering of schools across the north, north-east and Western Isles were also shut, including Inverness High School where parts of the roof had blown off. In Stirling, three primary schools will remain closed because they have no power. Gas engineers and council workmen have been working throughout the night to prepare for emergency repairs to a sea wall in the Aberdeenshire town of Banff where a gas pipeline was exposed. The sea wall in the Scotstown area was badly damaged in a storm surge last night. Inverness was also mopping up after a day which saw the Rver Ness burst its banks where, ironically, £34million flood alleviation works are being carried out. The winter wonderland event due to take place in Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens tonight has been cancelled on the grounds of public safety. Meanwhile, police and local authorities were encouraging those vulnerable and elderly members of the community to contact them directly so appropriate assistance can be provided. This also applies for members of the public who are concerned for another member of the community or family member who they feel may require support until power is restored. Superintendent Stevie Mackay, of Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division, said: "The severe weather seems to be passing through the area as was predicted but we still need to be vigilant in terms of supporting those within our communities who need our support at this time. We are working with a number of community groups to support the elderly and vulnerable within local areas, especially those more remote locations of the division to ensure that everyone has all the provisions they need until such time as power is restored. Collectively, we are urging people to check on their neighbours, particularly older people and those with any mobility problems during this period without power. Anne Eadie, of British Red Cross advised: "I would encourage people to keep an eye on their neighbours, particularly the elderly or infirm. Some people may have been without power and heating for the majority of yesterday, and as such we have volunteers working within specifically highlighted areas to provide such items as heaters to elderly members of the community. We all need to look out for each other during the severe weather and make sure those less able than ourselves are not forgotten about, especially in such such adverse conditions and its after effects.