Black ice warning for central Scotland motorists

Police have warned many roads are still very icy

Police have warned of widespread black ice across central Scotland's roads, despite conditions gradually improving.

Central Scotland Police are still advising drivers to travel only when absolutely necessary.

The M9, M876 and the sliproads into Stirling have been highlighted as roads where ice is a particular problem.

Temperatures across much of the region plummeted to below -10C, but are now rising. Forecasters are expecting a slow thaw through Friday and Saturday.

On Wednesday, a 20-mile stretch of the M8 motorway reopened after being closed for 48 hours by snow and ice.

Central Scotland Police said they were "keen to stress" that even if road conditions seemed acceptable at the start of the journey, conditions in other force areas may differ significantly.

Ch Insp Donald McMillan, the force's head of road policing, said: "While conditions are very gradually improving in the Forth Valley, we are still finding that roads are affected by both black ice and compacted ice.

"The M9, M876 and slip roads into Stirling are particularly badly affected and we are asking motorists to take extra care on these surfaces and only travel if they have to."

There are a handful of school closures in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling, and transport for some pupils is still being disrupted.

But temperatures are expected to rise above freezing over Saturday and Sunday.