A man has died after becoming stranded in heavy snow, without heat or power, while working on a wind farm.

The 74-year-old security guard and a 42-year-old colleague were working on Sunday at Afton Wind Farm, which is under construction near New Cumnock in East Ayrshire, when there was a power cut.

It is understood they struggled to call for help, although it is not known how long they were in difficulty for. The south and south west of Scotland were hit by heavy snowfall over the weekend.

The Police Scotland Mountain Rescue Team went to the 25-turbine development, which was due to be completed this spring, after family members raised the alarm at around 8.50pm.

The older man man was flown by helicopter to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died a short time later.

A spokesman for Afton Wind Farm Ltd told renews.biz, the renewable energy magagazine, there had been "a fatality in connection with the project", adding: "Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with the family of the deceased at this time.