Snow and low temperatures have shut schools in north and north east Scotland.

Almost 20 schools in the Highlands, including most in Inverness, and about 12 in Moray are shut.

Inverness Royal Academy, the largest school in the region, said it was closed for safety reasons due to poor road conditions and has advised pupils any affected prelim exams would be rearranged.

Traffic Scotland said the A9 north of the Black Isle’s Tore Roundabout was closed for a time due to a fallen tree.

The Met Office has a number of yellow “be aware” weather warnings for snow and rain in place for Thursday and also the weekend.

Snow and ice affected schools and travel across parts of Scotland, and the rest of the UK, earlier this week.