Snow let-up as cold snap tightens grip across the Lothians

More snow is expected this weekend

With temperatures set to plummet to -5C in the Capital today, the Met Office is warning that conditions will not improve during the early part of next week.

Forecaster Sarah Holland said: "There will be persistent and heavy snow showers at times through the weekend.

"If people are out and about today, there will be icy conditions and more snow showers.

"Unfortunately, there will be no let-up of these colder temperatures over the next few days.

"In rural areas, temperatures could get down to -7 or -8 and minus -4 or -5 in Edinburgh."

Meanwhile, the city council said that it was working hard in preparation for the bad weather.

A spokeswoman said the local authority's 31 gritters would be out in full force, along with 19 mini-tractors, a range of other vehicles and hundreds of staff and contractors.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "We are on the front foot and doing everything we can to get up-to-date with our refuse collections, and we want to make sure that priority roads are gritted in advance of the forecast for bad weather.

"We want to reassure residents that we are out on the ground and are well prepared for whatever weather may come our way."

Some residents, however, are not satisfied with the rate at which the city council is gritting roads and pavements.

Dani Dinwoodie, 33, who lives in Corstorphine, said her street, Roull Road, hasn't been gritted since the snow started.

She said: "I have got a four-month-old baby and a four-year-old boy who has to get to nursery every morning. He slipped on the ice on Thursday and again yesterday.

"I was walking on the road on the way back from the nursery yesterday because the pavement is impassable.

"A car started sliding and stopped a foot away from us. The council is saying it is doing its best but I don't think it is."

Mark Peacock, head of driver development at AA Driving School, said: "Driving conditions will be treacherous in many parts over the next few days.

"If you do make a journey, it is absolutely vital that you adjust your driving to suit the conditions. The key is to go easy, drive with extra care and keep the car moving smoothly, avoiding sudden movements, whether that's with the steering wheel, brakes or accelerator."

Some parts of the Lothians experienced 10-15 cm of snow yesterday and temperatures will struggle to get above freezing tomorrow.

Around 800 tonnes of rubbish have been picked up every day in the Capital this week, compared to the normal daily weight of 400 to 500 tonnes.

Residents in Balerno, Currie, South Queensferry, Kirkliston and Ratho are being asked to leave their wheelie bins in the most accessible place to help refuse crews.

Householders in West Lothian are being asked to only put their grey bin out for collection from Monday next week.