Henrik Larsson sent out a chilling title warning to Rangers as Celtic recorded a red-hot 3-0 victory in arctic Tynecastle conditions.

The Premier League leaders handled the blizzards, a determined Hearts side and more importantly the pressure of their arch-rivals breathing down their neck.

And it was brilliant striker Larsson who fired a stunning hat-trick to take his season tally to 35 goals.

With 31 of them in the SPL, he is rapidly closing on Brian McClair's Scottish record of 35 in 1986-87.

The Premier League leaders breathed a sigh of relief when the match was passed fit to play by referee Kenny Clark as blizzards swept the country.

A late postponement would have been the last thing Martin O'Neill would have wanted after their midweek game at St Johnstone was called off shortly before the game due to the fog.

That gave Rangers the chance to close the gap on their arch rivals to just six points with victories over Aberdeen and Dunfermline.

Celtic now find themselves under as much pressure as they have been for quite some time.

They were without the suspended Bobby Petta and Stilian Petrov, but the break had given Joos Valgaeren time to recover from a hamstring problem.

In addition, Paul Lambert started alongside Neil Lennon for the first time in Scottish football.

Celtic faced a difficult afternoon with Hearts on a high after their victory over St Mirren in midweek and Gordon Durie and Scott Severin came in for Steven Boyack and Gary McSwegan.

The snow, which had become worse before kick-off, had evidently scared off a large number of supporters who had opted to stay away to watch the game on Sky television.

But Celtic, who had already beaten Hearts on three occasions this season, made the dream start when they took the lead after just four minutes.

Alan Thompson fired in a dangerous free-kick from the left wing and Henrik Larsson got ahead of Grant Murray to emphatically head into the bottom corner for his 34th goal of the season.

But the visitors were dealt a cruel blow in the sixth minute when Valgaeren was carried off after appearing to fall awkwardly after going up for a header with Durie and Tom Boyd came on in his place.

Celtic were rampant in the opening exchanges and almost created another great chance for Larsson in the eighth minute when Ramon Vega crossed from the right, but Steven Pressley made a vital interception.

Sutton was booked moments later after clashing with Petric off-the-ball - but that failed to knock Celtic out of their stride.

Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi became the hero in the 12th minute after Didier Agathe had left Pressley and Colin Cameron in his wake with a burst down the right.

The Frenchman got to the by-line and cut the ball back, but the former Rangers star made a telling save as Larsson set himself up for a shot.

Hearts were clearly rattled and Niemi again had to keep his side in the match as Sutton got to Thompson's free-kick - but the goalkeeper did well to get down low to his right to deny him.

Celtic were far from fazed with the loss of Valgaeren, who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.

The visitors were unlucky not to double their lead in the 24th minute following a flowing move which ripped the Hearts defence wide open again.

Larsson rounded Niemi, after a great interchange of passes from Lambert and Sutton. The Swede tried to return the ball to his fellow striker, but the ball was too high for him to capitalise.

Former Rangers man Durie was booked in the 27th minute for a late challenge on Boyd, but his strike partner Andy Kirk was presented with Hearts' first chance to draw level two minutes later.

Robert Tomaschek made a determined run to the by-line before picking out the youngster at the near post, but Kirk blasted just wide on the volley.

Sutton was inches away from adding a second in the 38th minute when he just failed to reach the ball after Larsson had burst through on the right and squared across the face of goal.

Hearts were still in with a shout and in the 41st minute they mustered their first shot on target when Tomaschek rose to head Cameron's free-kick - but Robert Douglas comfortably saved.

The visitors, however, survived a last-minute scare when Cameron's corner fell to Severin on the edge of the box, and he hit a fierce goalbound strike which Boyd headed over.

Celtic continued to press Hearts back after the break, and on the hour mark Sutton was again presented with a glorious chance.

Jackie McNamara found the striker on the edge of the box, and after Sutton had jinked past Pressley only a crucial block from Murray denied him a shot on target.

But Hearts were still in the game and in the 67th minute they went close when Cameron's free-kick came off the head of Boyd and past the far post.

Celtic, however, killed the game off just a minute later when Thompson broke down the left wing before crossing for Larsson, who flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot and into the bottom corner.

Larsson, however, was not finished and in the 84th minute he completed a brilliant hat-trick.

The Swede played the ball through to Didier Agathe down the right flank and his cross was fired home past Niemi by the Swede, who wheeled away in delight.

Agathe could have made it four late on, but his shot was well saved by Niemi.

The victory gives Celtic a nine-point lead over Dick Advocaat's men before the two teams meet at Parkhead next Sunday.