PARTS of Scotland have been battered by gusts of up to 90mph after torrential rain caused havoc with roads and public events.

The north-west bore the brunt of the high winds, although the central belt, Aberdeen and Dundee saw gusts up to 60mph.

Last night public transport was cancelled in the Western Isles after 6pm and after-school clubs abandoned as a precautionary measure after gusts of 74mph battered South Uist.

The A82 between Glencoe and Tyndrum was also shut to high-sided vehicles.

The Met Office issued amber warnings for people to be prepared for bad weather in Orkney, Shetland, the Highlands and Strathclyde while the rest of the country was on yellow alert.

Elsewhere, torrential rain forced the cancellation of Motherwell's SPL game against Dundee United at Fir Park.

Billy Payne, from weather forecast service Meteogroup, said: "A low pressure system is coming up from the south-west ending up north of Shetland.

"Maximum wind speeds will be between 85 and 90mph and the highest winds will be around the exposed north-west, particularly Skye and the mainland as well as the northern isles.

"The winds will stay strong in the far north reaching 70mph through the day in areas such as Caithness and Sutherland."

Meanwhile, tributes have been paid to oceanographer Dr Tim Boyd, 54, who was found dead after being caught in a lightning storm near his home in Port Appin, Argyll, on Sunday.

The Scottish Association for Marine Science said it was "grief stricken" by the tragedy.