SCOTLAND is bracing itself for another cold snap as forecasters predict heavy snowfall in large parts of the country in the coming days.

Wintry showers are expected to hit on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing further disruption to the transport network.

The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning for snow across Strathclyde, Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian, South West Scotland, Lothian and Borders and the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland.

The public are being urged to prepare for weather-related disruption as forecasters expect 2-5cm of snow to accumulate locally at low levels, while higher ground above 150 metres could see in excess of 10cm.

Visibility could be significantly reduced at times with strong and gusty winds likely to accompany the snow showers.

A statement by the Met Office's chief forecaster read: "An active cold front is expected to push south-east across the UK during Wednesday introducing an increasingly cold and unstable air mass.

"Showers will become frequent and heavy, increasingly falling as snow in the north and west, and driven well inland by strong to gale force north-westerly winds.

"Accumulating snow is likely, especially overnight."

Paul Knightley, UK forecast manager at weather services company MeteoGroup, said a strong wind will bring colder air.

He added: "Accompanying this fresh to strong wind will be numerous wintry showers, falling as hail, sleet and snow.

"Although these are possible almost anywhere from Wednesday afternoon onwards, the higher ground of western and northern Britain and Northern Ireland is most likely to see significant snowfall.

"With northerly winds developing, North Sea coasts of Scotland and north-east England will be prone to snow showers. It looks like the cold weather will continue into the weekend and probably through to the start of the following week as well."

The weather warnings come just over a week after the country was gripped by snow and icy conditions, leading to transport delays and cancellations.

Flights in and out of Glasgow airport were delayed or cancelled on December 16 as heavy flurries caused problems on the runways, while trains in and around the city were also disrupted.

The A76 near Cumnock and New Cumnock was closed because of the conditions, as was the A751 at Stranraer.

Long queues also developed on the M80 after three buses became stuck on the A806 towards Kirkintilloch, while the Erskine Bridge was closed southbound.

The snow also caused the Championship's top-of-the-table football match between Rangers and Hearts to be called off halfway through the first half, with tens of thousands of fans forced to trudge home.

Earlier in the month, thousands of homes were also left without power as snow, heavy rain and high winds caused major problems in the Highlands and Western Isles.