SNOW and freezing temperatures have returned to parts of Scotland as weather forecasters predict a disappointing summer.

Inverness was among the places where heavy snow has disrupted traffic and forced drivers to abandon their cars. Residents also reported an inch of hailstones.

The chilly conditions follow a period of warm, dry and sunny weather with temperatures reaching 20C in Inverness, Aboyne, Aviemore, Tyndrum and Glasgow last Wednesday.

The unexpected snow came as Scotland is forecast three months' colder-than-average temperatures until the start of August and a "disappointing" summer with no long heatwaves.

The Met Office has suggested hotter-than-normal temperatures for three months to the start of July, but the Weather Services International (WSI), the business division of the Weather Channel, predicted below-average temperatures for Scotland for each of May, June and July.

WSI, whose clients include the National Grid, British Airways and Shell, forecast temperatures to average up to 1C below normal - a large amount in meteorological terms - across Scotland from May to July.

The colder weather was blamed on low pressure and cool air from the north-west Atlantic, set to rebuff high pressure, summer's main cause of hot spells.

Todd Crawford, a WSI forecaster, said: "Below-normal temperatures are expected in the UK from May to July.

"As we head into summer, we expect the pattern of mild high pressure to reverse to low pressure, with a generally cool summer expected."