GUSTS of up to 85mph have battered parts of Scotland, impacting on transport and with warnings over power supplies.

As a low pressure system lashed the west coast, the Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings, one covering the whole country amid predictions 80mph winds would hit exposed areas.

Severe gales of up to 70mph were forecast for inland. The second warning was issued for the north west of the country and Orkney, with storm force winds of up to 85mph along the coast forecast.

All schools on Uist and Barra were closed and 23 of ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne's 26 services have been disrupted.

Several Monday evening bus services, including Stornoway to Point, were also cancelled, with sports centres on Lewis and Benbecula also closed.

The Skye Bridge was also closed to high sided vehicles and high wind warning had been issued for the Dornoch Bridge.

Flood warnings were in place in Easter Ross and Great Glen, and more moderate flood alerts in Tayside, Skye and Lochaber.

Stornoway on Lewis has already had a record number of thunderstorms this winter, with 11 days between December and February compared to previous records of seven in 1916 and 2000.

The weather warnings were valid in place until the early hours of this morning.

Nicola Maxey, from the Met Office, said this weather was "fairly typical" for the time of year.

She added: "There is a low pressure system passing across the north of the UK from the west."

Transport minister Derek Mackay said: "Due to high winds and seasonal weather there are a number of disruptions and cancellations to ferry services. This kind of disruption is not uncommon at this time of year."