A 12km stretch of the Aberdeen bypass has fully opened to traffic this morning.

Traffic cones on the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty were removed overnight and the temporary 40mph speed limit lifted, meaning motorists could use both lanes of the new 70mph dual carriageway for the first time.

The announcement on the latest opening was made on Monday by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Michael Matheson.

The new section represents around a fifth of the entire Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

It includes three new junctions, 9km (5.59-mile) of new dual carriageway between Balmedie and Bridgend and improvements made to the existing route between Blackdog and Balmedie.