The first of three Ayrshire-wide weather alerts in the coming days has now come into force.

The first Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice started at midnight on Tuesday morning and will run right through to midnight on Wednesday morning. 

The weather organisation says delays on the roads are likely, with potential for disruption to public transport services. 

A second warning for ice then comes into force from midnight until midday on Wednesday, with warnings of icy patches on pavements and roads.

A third warning, again for snow and ice, then kicks in from midnight on Wednesday, and lasts for 24 hours until midnight on Thursday. 

A Met Office spokesperson said: "Snow showers will continue to feed inland early on Tuesday morning across northern and western Scotland, parts of Wales and northwest England where 2-5 cm of snow is possible over a few hours in some places.

"During the day, an area of more organised rain, sleet and snow is likely to move east with further showers following.

"There is still some uncertainty in the track of more prolonged snow, and it is possible that at lower elevations across Wales and northern England, this could turn to rain for a time.

"However, there is a chance some places could see 5-10 cm perhaps 20 cm of snow, particularly across the northern half of Scotland and over higher ground elsewhere.

"Following the sleet and snowfall across the region on Tuesday, which will have cleared this area by the start of Wednesday, temperatures will widely fall well below freezing.

"This will lead to the refreezing of slush and snow, and ice forming on many surfaces."

For Thursday's warning, the Met Office added: "Further snow showers continue, but with the wind subtly changing to a more westerly direction, slightly different areas are most likely to see the greatest focus of showers compared to the previous day.

"In many areas, this fresh snow will be falling on top of snow already on the ground. Parts of northern and western Scotland (including southwest Scotland) are likely to see an additional 2-5 cm fairly widely, with peaks of 15-20 cm for areas just inland from west / northwest facing coasts.

"Further inland towards the southeast of the area, an additional 1-2 cm, with isolated 5 cm is more probable.

"In addition to the snowfall, ice is likely fairly widely, with thawing / re-freezing of slush and snow."