MOTORISTS have been warned to take care after the low winter sun was blamed for a series of crashes involving eighteen cars on the same stretch of road.

Police Scotland said that glare from the sun leading to visibility problems was the underlying factor in four collisions on the A9 on Monday and Tuesday mornings.

No-one was thought to have been seriously injured in the crashes, which all happened between the Kessock Bridge and the Tore roundabout.

The first incident on Tuesday involved six cars and happened at about 8.30am on the southbound carriageway between Allangrange junction and the Munlochy junction.

Emergency services were called and the road was cleared less than two hours later.

Around an hour after the first crash, four cars were involved in a bump slightly further south, at North Kessock.

On Monday morning, eight cars were involved in two separate crashes on the same stretch of road.

A woman was taken to hospital for treatment after six cars collided north of the Munlochy junction.

Two cars were involved in the second incident on Monday. There were no casualties but one car caught fire.

Inspector Neil Lumsden of the Trunk Road Patrol Group said: "Over the last two days, emergency services have responded to four multi-vehicle collisions on the A9 at Allangrange, between Tore and Inverness.

"A contributory factor in both collisions has been the presence of a low lying sun, causing reduced visibility for drivers.

"Fortunately no-one was seriously injured as a result of the collisions, but on both occasions the collisions have happened at the same time of day and resulted in the closure of the main A9 arterial route, causing disruption to commuters and local communities."

He added: "Whilst I would like to thank road users for their patience during the closures, I would also like to remind drivers of the importance of driving to the road conditions and adjusting their speed accordingly.

"Speed limits aren't targets, but the maximum, safest speed permitted on a section of road.

"In situations of reduced visibility drivers should reduce their speed and extend the distance between them and the vehicle in front. This will not only give them sufficient time to react to what is happening in front of them, but allow then to extend their braking distance so the driver behind also has time to respond."

Motoring group the RAC have also issued advice to drivers, saying that they should take care and slow down when on a stretch of road affected by the glare of the sun.

The problem is particularly dangerous at this time of year because of the position of the sun in the sky and the possibility of light reflecting from rain-soaked roads.

Two years ago financial adviser Christopher Groves, 38, and his son Connor, nine, from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, died in an accident on the A725 near the Raith interchange towards East Kilbride at around 11.15am on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses have said that the road was particularly hazardous because the effect the angle of the sun had on driving conditions.