Residents on Arran have spoken of some of the worst conditions they have ever seen, as hundreds of homes remain without power since heavy snow blacked out the whole island.

Snow and gales blasted the west coast of Scotland four days ago, damaging power lines and plunging 18,000 homes and businesses into darkness, with Arran in the Firth of Clyde suffering a complete blackout.

The team effort of those involved to reach people stranded in their homes as roads became blocked by huge snowdrifts has been praised.

Barbara Crawford, who owns the Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot on the west of the island, said: "We had been the only place set up with a generator in the west coast, so we have electricity and have become the hub for people to come and get some food and keep warm.

"We were completely shut off, with the roads to get here impassable, but we got a helicopter delivery of blankets, flasks and torches to the hotel.

"We've opened our shower facilities for people in the local community to use and the mountain rescue team who have been co-ordinating from here.

"We've also had a team of doctors and care workers here and people have had to come to the hotel to see them."

A group of students from Cambridge who were staying at the hotel were forced to stay an extra two days because they could not get to the ferry.

Ms Crawford said: "I'm sure it was a worrying time for their parents but we finally got them away after we got together 10 or 12 locals with 4x4s to take them to the ferry along the road round the south of the island after it had been cleared.

"It has really been a team effort to make sure everybody in the area who was cut off has been looked after. We now have around 30 or 40 people in the hotel who are all keeping warm.

"The hotel has been in the family for 58 years and neither me nor my husband Robbie have ever seen anything like this."

Willie Gibson, leader of North Ayrshire Council, paid tribute to the "great team effort" of those involved in helping to restore power, clear roads and care for others on the island over the weekend.

"Hundreds of council staff, partners and volunteers have been working around the clock in truly dreadful conditions all weekend to help in any way they can.

"Their efforts deserve huge recognition as we continue to tackle some of the worst conditions ever witnessed on the island, with snow drifts of up to 15ft in some places.

"We at North Ayrshire Council are not surprised at the incredible level of community spirit which has been shown on Arran over the past few days and we know that everyone will continue to pitch in and do whatever they can until normality has been restored."

Emergency services and engineers reached all parts of the island by yesterday afternoon, helping to keep roads clear and run generators and mobile catering units.

Transport Minister Keith Brown, speaking from Brodick, Arran, said the greatest challenge for people on the island is snow drifts which are 20ft (6m) high in places.

"What you're seeing are ferries going on new routes, from Kennacraig to Campbeltown, taking generators. There's food being supplied to local shops. There are individual burger vans and food vans being established to try to help people, and contact is being made with anybody that might be in a vulnerable situation.

"It is difficult. The A83, which is crucial to getting the infrastructure repaired, has only reopened this morning. It opened to emergency vehicles last night and, more generally, under police convoy this morning so it is taking some time.

"Contact has been made with those people who are in extreme circumstances to make sure they have, if they need it, heat and also food. That's being supplied by local responders."

Mr Brown praised the work of the 300-400 engineers working to restore power as well as others rallying together in a difficult time.

"I've talked to a number of people who live on the island (who are) very happy with the response that's been made by SSE and other responders, but of course (they are) still uncomfortable given the fact that many of them don't have mains electricity; although increasingly, with the generators which came across yesterday and the ones which came across this morning, people will be getting electricity supply and, with that, heat and the ability to cook food as well.

"I have to say some of the response so far from SSE, from the local council, the police and many people - for example the mountain rescue who are making trips by foot to go to people's homes - it's been tremendous. And if we can just get to that final stage where we get everybody back on supply then I think it will be an effective operation."

Elsewhere in Scotland, driving snow and high winds continue to hamper the efforts of hundreds of engineers as they try to reconnect thousands of properties still without power.

In Dumfries and Galloway, ScottishPower has now reduced the number of properties without power from 3,000, the situation on Sunday morning, to 300 after 200 engineers worked through the night.

More staff were sent to the area to continue repairs and bring power back to the remaining properties. "We will do everything we can," a spokesman for the firm said.

As of Sunday night, 3,500 homes in Kintyre and 1,500 on Arran were still without power.

Engineers from Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution have worked late into the night and began again at first light this morning, according to a spokeswoman.

But the company's staff are struggling to reach power lines because of snow, especially in the more rural areas.

Helicopters were used over the weekend to identify faults and inform engineers of their locations.

The spokeswoman said: "The network has suffered significant damage with the gale-force winds and snow drifts over the course of Friday and Saturday but I can assure all the customers we are doing all we can to ensure we restore power as quickly as possible."

Argyll and Bute Council said the A83 at Clachan has reopened with traffic moving under police convoy. The Tangy Mill and Glenbarr loop roads are also open.

Teams have been working to clear other roads blocked by snow and low-lying power cables, such as the B8001 to Skipness, Barr Glen, Learside, Glenbreckerie, Lossit and Gobagrennan.

Heavy machinery is also helping to clear the Clachan loop road and roads to Mull which are also blocked.

Council staff provided hot food in Victoria Hall, Campbeltown, from 8pm yesterday and are still serving tea and coffee.

Scottish and Southern Energy has sent catering vans to the area, with one at Victoria Hall and others in Carradale and Southend.

Primary schools south of Tarbert are closed but Campbeltown Grammar School is open as normal.