Heavy snow hit the north of Scotland today leaving schools closed and causing travel chaos.

In Aberdeenshire the council closed 59 schools either fully or partially as overnight snowfalls continued through the day.

Commuters in the region also experienced lengthy delays, with a number of roads affected.

Forecasters said the heavy snow will spread to large parts of the rest of the country by tomorrow morning.

Grampian Police said several roads in the north east are closed or are passable only with care.

While snow fell throughout the morning in Aberdeen, the city council said just one school had been shut.

The Highlands saw steady snowfall in high areas, with three inches of snow lying in Aviemore by late morning.

Highland Council said three schools had been closed across the region.

Clear conditions were reported in the south of Scotland, with both Dumfries and Galloway and Borders Council saying their services were unaffected.

Between one and two inches of snow can be seen in general across Scotland, according to the Met Office, with up to four inches in higher ground in the Borders.

In the north east and Highlands up to eight-inch-thick snow can be seen on higher ground.

Tony Conlan, forecaster with Press Association's MeteoGroup UK, said: "At the moment there is a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow across the north half of Scotland, and this is extending to central areas.

"Overnight this turns mainly to snow in the north, and advances slowly south."