TRAINS to and from Helensburgh remain suspended on Friday morning and the main road between the town and Dumbarton is closed as the 'Beast from the East' continues to hold much of Scotland in its grip.

And the cold weather has also led to the cancellation of more community events in the area over the weekend.

The A814 between Helensburgh and Dumbarton is blocked by drifting snow and abandoned vehicles, and is shut between Cats Castle at the west end of Dumbarton and the Waitrose roundabout at the east end of Helensburgh.

Access to Cardross is severely restricted.

However overnight treatment took place on the A818 between Arden and Helensburgh to preserve access to Helensburgh itself.

The A817 Haul Road between Luss and Garelochhead is closed, as is Carman Road between Renton and Cardross.

But there's some good news for people living in the area after two local bus operators announced the partial resumption of services.

Garelochhead Coaches and Wilson's of Rhu have returned to the roads to operate the 316 bus service between Helensburgh and Coulport via Garelochhead, Rosneath and Kilcreggan, though according to Garelochhead Coaches on Twitter, buses are not operating via Ardencaple or Colquhoun Square in Helensburgh, instead running direct to Helensburgh Central railway station.

Buses may also be subject to delays because of road conditions in the area.

Wilson's have also resumed operation of the 340 service between Helensburgh, the Vale of Leven Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital, though the company has warned that this route, too, may still be subject to delays.

But the Helensburgh local bus service – route 315 between the town centre and Churchill via Kirkmichael – remains suspended.

And First Glasgow's 1B service is not operating between Helensburgh and Dumbarton because of the closure of the A814.

The latest from ScotRail is that train services continue to be suspended in the parts of Scotland covered by a Met Office 'amber alert', where the official advice is still not to travel.

That includes all services via Glasgow Queen Street low level, among them the Helensburgh-Edinburgh route.

There's also, still, no service on the West Highland Line south of Crianlarich.

And the Kilcreggan ferry is suspended because of the weather, with a review promised by 3pm on Friday.

As reported on this site yesterday, all schools in Helensburgh and Lomond are closed for a second day, but it is hoped they'll be able to reopen on Monday. Parents are advised to check social media and Argyll and Bute Council's website for the latest over the weekend.

* Meanwhile, there's more to add to the list of cancelled weekend community events in Helensburgh and the surrounding area.

Helensburgh's Boys' Brigade have cancelled their Big Breakfast fund-raiser in the town on Saturday morning, while the same fate has befallen a planned beach clean in Rhu on Sunday morning.

The latest events information we have is as follows.

Helensburgh Tennis Club soup lunch on Friday afternoon;

Grey Matters Knitting Bee at Helensburgh Dementia Resource Centre on Friday afternoon - CANCELLED;

M&Co fashion show for Cardross Primary on Friday night - CANCELLED;

12hr fitness marathon for Coeliac UK at The Journey on Saturday morning - STILL ON;

Grey Matters regular meeting on Saturday morning - CANCELLED;

Hermitage Academy PTA car boot sale (pictured) on Saturday - CANCELLED;

Boys' Brigade Big Breakfast on Saturday morning - CANCELLED;

Ardencaple FC tribute evening on Saturday night;

Rhu beach clean on Sunday morning - CANCELLED;

Duchess Wood work party on Sunday afternoon;

Cove Sailing Club afternoon tea for RNLI on Sunday.