'Drive safe' warning as icy roads expected on Bank Holiday Monday

Motorists have been urged to drive with care as a yellow weather warning for ice covers large areas of the UK.

The Met Office issued the alert, valid until 11am on Monday, for Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, and Yorkshire and Humber.

Traffic Scotland warned drivers to take care and drive to the conditions when travelling.

Gritters have been out treating roads around the country and authorities urged people to be cautious.

Stirling Council tweeted: “With a yellow weather warning for ice in place until 11am today, our gritting teams have been treating priority routes across Stirling.

“Please take care while travelling, especially on untreated routes, and keep up to date with the latest weather and travel reports.”

Forecasters said icy patches are likely on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

The Met Office warning said that a few rain, sleet and snow showers may still affect these areas into Monday, but that ice remains the main hazard.

It said: “Following recent wet conditions, surfaces are likely to remain wet into Monday morning and, with a cold night, icy stretches will readily form on untreated surfaces.

“A few rain, sleet and snow showers may still affect these areas overnight, but ice remains the main hazard.”

Travel in the north has already been disrupted by flooding.

Network Rail said a landslip had collapsed an embankment along part of the West Coast Mainline and it has closed the track between Carlisle and Glasgow until January 6 to conduct repair works.

All flood warnings in Scotland have now lifted but some are still in place around York, East Sussex, Bournemouth, Bristol and the Lake District.

However for much of the UK, Monday is likely to be the driest day of the week with rain moving in from the Atlantic afterwards, forecasters said.