Ice warning after snow travel delays
- Published
People have been urged to take care on icy pavements and roads
Travellers have been warned of icy conditions following days of disruption due to snow.
Temperatures were expected to fall well below zero overnight with sleet and snow showers continuing into Saturday.
Driving conditions were again hazardous on the M74 on Friday evening, with several minor accidents contributing to long delays for motorists.
A Met Office yellow warning of ice is in force for most of the country, with only the north east at less risk.
Forecasters said there would probably be ice on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, potentially resulting in injuries from slips and falls.
An amber warning of heavy snow was issued for Friday evening, with firms urged to send staff home early to avoid the worst of the weather at rush hour.
Police downgraded their travel advice from stage three to stage two on Saturday, meaning that people should still travel with caution and that conditions for road travel "may be hazardous".
Drivers were urged to plan ahead for their journey and expect possible travel delays in the warning areas of Central, Tayside and Fife, the Highlands, the Western and Northern Isles, south west Scotland, the Lothians, Borders and Strathclyde.
There were a number of minor accidents on the M74 on Friday
Network Rail said points heaters had helped keep the rail network open
A force spokesman said: "If using public transport, please check with the provider before you leave to see if there is any disruption or cancellation to services.
"We are also advising people to plan ahead over the weekend. If you're out during the evening and planning on drinking alcohol, make sure you have your journey home organised.
"Book a taxi in advance and keep up to date with transport providers to ensure services are running."
On Friday, members of the public were urged to stay off the roads, with weather warnings covering much of the country.
Dozens of schools around Scotland were closed while some shut early due to the weather.
In Larbet, used 4x4 vehicles to help transfer discharged patients from Forth Valley Hospital to their homes in places badly affected by snowfall.
Later in the day the A708 at Moffat was closed because of snow.
A lorry jack-knifed on the M74, near Junction 10 southbound, damaging the central barrier, but the vehicle was later recovered .
But there was no repeat of the chaos of Tuesday night when hundreds of drivers were stranded overnight on the motorway.