A road was sealed off in the Highlands yesterday after a mystery substance was discovered in four large, clear plastic bags.

Specialist fire units were sent to the B9091 near Clephanton between Nairn and Inverness shortly after midday.

Unmarked bags containing a white powder were found on the road, with police alerting the fire service, which sent units from Inverness, Nairn, Elgin and headquarters in Aberdeen’s North Anderson Drive.

The Aberdeen-based Detection Identification and ­Monitoring unit was due to assess the ­mysterious powder.

Decontamination ­equipment was drafted in from Elgin.

Police said they were alerted to the powder just after 11.30am and called in fire crews at 12.15pm.

A tent was set up at the site while the ­investigations were carried out.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The DIM team are testing and analysing the substance.”