Hours after a bus carrying children on a school trip crashed in bad weather, killing one and seriously injuring four more, questions are being asked about just why the trip was allowed to go ahead.

The Met office last night released a rare emergency flash warning about the weather conditions, saying they had "80% confidence" that heavy snows and strong blizzards would hit the area. The trip was nonetheless allowed to proceed with the coach setting off in the early hours of the morning.

Police sources say that while investigations into the cause of the crash are proceeding, they say the weather was "horrendous" at the time, and believe that it played a role in the incident. 

A statement issued by South Lanarkshire Council late on Wednesday said that they have been concentrating on providing support to children, their parents and staff at the school. 

A council spokesman added: "We're working alongside the police who are carrying out their investigation into the accident and it would be wrong to speculate about the cause.

"What we do know is that many of our school buses were out this morning taking children to schools, including Lanark Grammar. The roads had been gritted throughout the night and the traffic was moving. Forty-four people arrived at the school for the planned departure time."

Local MSP Karen GIllon reiterated that the focus should be on parents at this time, and said it was important to not to frighten children who will be getting on school buses again in the morning. 

However, a number of locals have told STV News of their concern at the weather conditions on the day of the accident, with many saying that the roads were virtually impassable in some places. STV News has also learned that a school trip to Italy that was planned for Friday may now be cancelled in the wake of the tragedy. 

• Parents speak out after daughter's death in bus crash