Snow, ice and flooding hits roads across Scotland

Lying snow is expected to cause travel problems for much of the country

Drivers have experienced difficult conditions on the roads across Scotland caused by snow, ice and flooding.

Several accidents closed roads in the far north, the north east and the south of the country.

Flood water was also causing problems on the A77 and M74. Snow led to delays in and around Dundee and the A9 has had heavy snow around Drumochter.

The Met Office said snow would turn gradually to rain, falling onto sub-zero surfaces through until midnight.

A spokesman for Traffic Scotland said: "Drive carefully in Dundee, Tayside and Grampian - conditions still very difficult for these areas due to snow/sleet. Check here before you travel."

The band of snow arrived in the west of the country, and travelled eastwards reaching much of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Tayside, Fife, the Lothians and Borders by lunchtime.

It prompted a number of school closures in Dumfries and Galloway, with more than 20 sites forced to close.

Police said vehicles had slid off the roadway in a number of different parts of the region with one woman having to be cut from her car after it ended up on its roof.

The main routes were said to be clear but side roads were particularly slippery.

He advised members of the public to consider carefully whether their journey was absolutely necessary.