Transport Minister Humza Yousaf: I am truly grateful for people going the extra mile to help out during snow

AS it became clear early last week we were preparing for a very significant weather event, our Multi-Agency Response Team at the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre in South Queensferry was activated.

We expected a different challenge from any dealt with before, and so it proved when the Met Office upgraded their ‘Amber Alert’ for snow to a ‘Red Alert’.

The message was clear: ‘avoid travel’, and one of our key tasks was to share that high and wide.

We responded around the clock to events as the weather hit, and hit hard.

Those teams who worked so hard to keep essential services moving are deserving of the plaudits, but so too are the public.

The people of Scotland have proven yet again that wherever needed they will pull together.

There have been examples across the country which have humbled me – stories of doctors, nurses, firemen, police, local volunteers, and countless others who have played their part in the response effort.

I am truly grateful to them for going the extra mile to help.

Although Scotland last week saw much of the worst that the weather can throw at us, we also saw the very best of what Scotland can throw back.