Snow and ice will create treacherous conditions across Glasgow and the West as freezing weather grips Scotland.

Temperatures across the country will plummet once more overnight with northern parts most likely to face disruption, the Met Office said.

The wintry conditions are expected to continue into the weekend and there are warnings that Britain could face unusually cold weather for the rest of the month.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: "There are indications of quite a prolonged cold period."

Glasgow Times:

Snow is set to fall in almost every part of the country in the coming days, with this week predicted to be one of the coldest of the winter so far.

Sub-zero temperatures are expected widely and could drop to -6C in parts of the country, the Met Office said.

A band of rain, sleet and snow will sweep in across Scotland and Northern Ireland overnight.

Between 1cm and 3cm of snow will fall widely and hilly areas could see up to 5cm.

Snow and ice warnings have been issued for swathes of the country over the next two days.

Mr Burkhill said: "As we go through the next 24 to 48 hours, it's going to stay cold, and we are going to see some snow and pretty much anywhere in the country could see something."

He added: "Across a big chunk of Scotland and Northern Ireland, where we have had snow overnight, that's likely to then lead to some ice in time for morning rush hour tomorrow."

Temperatures will dip further tonight - and could sink as low as -11C in parts of Scotland and northern England.

Another band of snow, sleet and rain would sweep across the country from Wednesday to Thursday and bring a "milder blip" in the weather, Mr Burkill said.

But he added: "The cold weather is likely to return as we go towards the weekend.

"Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side, so temperatures generally below average, with further frosts and also the risk of rain, sleet and snow as well."