Further warnings over icy roads

A driver digs out his snow covered car in Peebles in the Scottish Borders

A further plea has been made to motorists to take care on the roads as night falls and temperatures continue to drop.

Much of the country has experienced sub-zero temperatures throughout Christmas Eve.

Heavy snow fell in the east of the country, but all main routes remained opened.

Transport Scotland said 250 tonnes of grit had been deposited in the past 24 hours on the M8 alone.

It added that winter maintenance on the trunk road network is monitored and managed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

On Wednesday night temperatures plummeted with -16C being recorded in Aviemore in the Highlands and -11C in Edinburgh.

Scotland's Transport Secretary Stewart Stevenson said that ice and snow over the past few days had created some of the worst conditions on the roads for 20 years.

You really must check your local weather and the traffic situation where you live and where your journey is going

David Hoares
RAC

Snow and ice 'worst in 20 years'

BBC Scotland Travel

Drivers have even been advised to consider waiting until Christmas day to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.

RAC patrol manager David Hoares told BBC Scotland: "Our advice continues to be - you really must check your local weather and the traffic situation where you live and where your journey is going to before you decide whether you have to travel.

"Our basic advice is for people to delay their journeys as much as possible, or even maybe if you were going to travel Christmas Eve look to travel on Christmas Day because the weather is improving."

FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER

The enhanced content on this page requires Javascript and Flash Player 9