Snow sends drivers wheelspinning again

Fresh snowfall has brought more travel disruption to Scotland with delays on major roads. Congestion was reported across the central belt with the busy M8, M80, M74 and M77 motorways affected by sleet and snow during the morning rush hour while some schools are to open later than usual.

The Met office said: A spell of persistent rain and hill snow is expected to develop through Tuesday morning across southern Scotland, extending into northern Scotland in the afternoon and evening.

It comes as the country was largely returning to normal after "the Beast from the East''.

People were last week told not to drive from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning across the central belt, with the travel network largely paralysed due to heavy snow.

Most schools reopened on Monday after three days of closure but Midlothian and South Lanarkshire councils said on Tuesday that schools will open later than usual to allow more travel time in the snow.

Midlothian Council tweeted: "Alert - due to snow this morning pupils should not attend for school until 11am, if possible, this morning (Tuesday). However, if already on your way, don't worry, there will be staff present.''

Trains have reported a near-normal operation but some services have been hit by flooding.

Work is also continuing to clear roads in parts of Fife and Stirlingshire that were cut off by the snow.

The latest weather front is expected to work its way north throughout Tuesday.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: "An easterly wind is still bringing relatively cold air and that means the prolonged rain moves from northern England into southern and central Scotland and by the afternoon it's eastern Scotland that bears the brunt of that rainfall.

"A rain and snow warning is in effect because the rainfall could accumulate 20mm to 30mm or so and at lower levels we're expecting another 20 to 30cm of snow over hills above 400m so it could cause issues.'