Celtic and Henrik Larsson sent out a chilling title warning to Rangers with a red-hot victory in arctic Tynecastle conditions to leave their Old Firm rivals feeling out in the cold.

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

Larsson fired a stunning hat-trick to take his season's domestic tally to 35 and with 31 in the SPL he is rapidly closing on Brian McClair's Scottish record of 35 in 1986/87.

But that aside Celtic's display would have sent shock waves through Ibrox as Rangers had no doubt hoped by closing the gap to six points yesterday their Glasgow rivals would buckle under the pressure.

The response, however, was quite the opposite as Celtic made a perfect start when they took the lead after just four minutes.

Alan Thompson fired in a dangerous free-kick from the left wing and Larsson got ahead of Grant Murray to emphatically head into the bottom corner.

But the visitors were dealt a cruel blow in the sixth minute when Joos Valgaeren was carried off after appearing to fall awkwardly when going up for a header with Hearts striker Gordon Durie.

The inspirational Belgian was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken ankle which would be the only title worry from an otherwise faultless match.

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 only for Steven Pressley to make a vital interception.

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

Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi was their 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 byline and cut the ball back but the former Rangers keeper made a telling save as Larsson set himself up to shoot.

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 by the loss of Valgaeren and they were unfortunate 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, and the Swede tried to return the ball to his fellow striker but the ball was too high for him to capitalise.

Former Rangers star Durie was booked in the 27th minute for a late challenge on Tommy Boyd before 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 byline 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 Celtic goal in the 38th minute when Larsson burst through on the right and squared the ball across the face of goal but the former Chelsea player was unable to reach it.

But 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 Scott Severin on the edge of the box and he hit a fierce goalbound strike which Boyd, on the line, did well to head over.

Celtic continued to press Hearts back after the interval 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 jinking past Pressley only a crucial block from Murray denied him a shot on target.

Hearts went close in the 67th minute when Cameron's free-kick came off the head of Boyd and past the far post - but Celtic killed the game off just a minute later in superb fashion.

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 was not yet finished and in the 84th minute he was celebrating a brilliant hat-trick.

The Swede played the ball through to Agathe down the right flank and his return 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.

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

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Murray, Pressley, Petric, Flogel, Tomaschek, Cameron, Severin (Boyack 58), McAnespie (Juanjo 63), Durie (McSwegan 79), Kirk.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Makel.

Booked: Durie, Petric, Juanjo.

Celtic: Douglas, Vega, Valgaeren (Boyd 6), Mjallby, Agathe, Lambert, McNamara, Lennon, Thompson (Moravcik 85), Larsson (Smith 85), Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Burchill.

Booked: Sutton, Smith.

Goals: Larsson 4, 68, 83.

Att: 13,077

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).