Forecasters are warning of blizzard conditions over the weekend as wind and snow sweep across Scotland.

The Met Office has issued yellow "be aware" warnings of snow for a huge swath of the country stretching from Shetland down to the central belt.

The far north and Aberdeenshire are expected to be worst affected, with winds of up to 35mph gusting up to 60mph.

Coastal fringes are also expected to see up to 4ins (10cm) of snow fall, rising to 6ins (15cm) on higher ground.

The severe conditions are expected to move in from about 9am on Saturday and last until midnight.

Police have advised motorists to be aware of the likelihood of icy conditions and to check routes before they set off.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Snow showers will become frequent and heavy at times over much of northern and north west Scotland, including the Grampians, during Saturday.

"In addition, gale-force winds will result in temporary blizzard conditions and drifting over higher ground. The public should be aware that this is likely to cause disruption."

Yellow alerts have been issued for Orkney and Shetland, the Higlands, Grampian, Tayside, Central Scotland, Fife and Strathclyde.

For more information on being ready for winter, visit the STV Health Centre, brought to you by NHS inform.