In pictures: Beauty and the Beast from the East

Scotland might be in the grip of the wintry "Beast from the East", but BBC Scotland News website readers have been making some wonderful finds in the snow and ice.

Sophie Dear is among readers to find these star-shaped snowflakes in Aberdeenshire. Sophie photographed the flakes caught in her dog's fur

The flakes are believed to be fernlike stellar dendrite snowflakes. This one was pictured by Joanna Taylor

Wendy Deegan came across the snowflakes near Whiterashes in Aberdeenshire

Rob Elliott encountered this "icicle tree" near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire. He said: "Apparently it was caused by water splashing up from the road."

Gordy Macdonald spotted these foxes out in the snow in Glasgow's West End

This snow castle in Easter Balmoral was an impressive effort from Brian Lees and family.

Rachel Strawbridge's image was taken overlooking Aithsetter in Shetland. She said: "The low sun shining through the heavy snow clouds gave a warm, yellow light."

Beast from the East? No, just Dawn Darnton's Westie Maisy finding the snow hard going in Falkirk.

All images are copyrighted.