The capital grinds to a halt as winter keeps its icy grip on Scotland

SNOW brought further disruption to Scottish roads last night as winter weather refused to give way to spring.

And falling temperatures overnight means morning commuters could face a slippery start today, with warnings in place that ice could form across the worst affected areas.

Edinburgh, West Lothian, Perth and the Highlands were particularly hit with up to two inches of fresh snow falling on high ground.

In the capital, commuters were disrupted as the snow carpeted the city centre at evening rush-hour, forcing Edinburgh Castle to close early.

As the city’s roads became gridlocked, replacement buses that had been introduced to ferry some passengers between Haymarket and Waverley Stations were abandoned.

Elsewhere, trains travelling between Carlisle and Edinburgh were placed on a speed restriction, causing delays of 20 minutes on Virgin Trains and Transpennine Express services.

The weather caused disruption on the roads, particularly across higher ground. Areas to the south west of Edinburgh, including the Pentlands and Soutra, and West Lothian were among the area’s worst affected.

At one point Police Scotland were called out to a three-vehicle collision on the A702 near Penicuik, while the A720 ring road was closed west bound at Baberton after the carriageway was blocked by a fallen tree.

Further north, the snow gates were closed on the B974 between Fettercairn and Banchory.

A yellow warning for rain and snow covering central and northern Scotland had been in place from noon until midnight, prompting Lothian and Borders Police to issue a warning to travellers to stay safe and heed weather warnings.

A Met Office spokesman said the wintry conditions were at their most extreme across the southern uplands and central Highlands, with snow falling at 500ft and with up to 2in in areas around the south of Edinburgh.

Temperatures overnight were expected to dip to –5°C in some rural areas, and to –3°C in city centres, raising the possibility of treacherous conditions for morning commuters, particularly in the Edinburgh area.

However he added that the end may be in sight, with brighter and drier conditions on the way.

Snow carpeted the city centre at evening rush-hour