London: Several days after the start of spring, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been battered by snow, gale force winds and torrential rain, leaving thousands of people without power and causing havoc on roads.
Scottish police said a group of teenagers on a school outing were injured after their bus veered off a road and crashed into water near Biggar, 50 miles (80 kilometres) southwest of Glasgow.
A police spokeswoman said four were seriously injured.
More than 20,000 homes in Scotland are without electricity.
A Scottish Power spokesman said 600 engineers are working on the problem, but that they are hampered by the weather.
Drivers were warned to stay off the roads for all but the most essential travel. Some train services were canceled.
