Parts of Scotland woke up to snow cover on Saturday with more than two inches falling in some parts.

In areas of the north and north-east residents woke to find their gardens and paths dusted with the white stuff.

The Met Office had issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice in parts of the Highlands, Western Isles, Grampian and Tayside for Friday and Saturday. In some parts of the north east, over 3cm of snowfall was recorded.

The unexpected cold snap does come as a bonus to Scotland's ski centres.

A spokesman for Cairngorm Mountain said: "[There were] heavy snow showers with four to six cm of fresh overnight powder.

"We have a temperature of -4C at the top station.

"There's great skiing today with fresh powder on top of firm pistes."

He added that parts of runs had been filled in by the recent snowfall and that drivers should take care on their way to the centre due to the cold weather.

A Glencoe mountain spokesman said all upper and mid mountain runs were complete with the exception of one.

He added that lower slopes are thin and patchy in places, but the main links are still complete. The Lecht and Glenshee both remained closed.

While skiers enjoy the weather, the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service has warned walkers and climbers to prepare for winter conditions on the highest mountains. The avalanche risk in the Cairngorms is described as "considerable" but "moderate" across other popular regions.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "There was a wee drop over parts of Lanarkshire on Friday - in the early evening there was a bit of wet stuff but it just lay on the grass.

"Overnight into Saturday there was a bit of lying snow in parts of the north mainland.

"It was mostly in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highlands and a bit in in the Western Isles. It was quite small amounts, but it is unseasonal.

"It's all melted away with the spring sunshine but there's a cold feel to it out there."

It was not just Scotland that woke up to the wintry weather.

Parts of the West Midlands, Wales and south Lincolnshire were struck by snow.

At Silverstone, practice for the World Endurance Championship was affected.

The UK had basked in temperatures of 18C and sunshine earlier in the week, but cooler and more wintry conditions arrived for the weekend.

With snowfall across the UK Ladbrokes trimmed the odds to 6/4 that the thermometer drops to -10C this weekend, while it's a 9/2 shot April secures itself as the coldest month if -15C or lower is reached.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "The odds are falling as quick as the snow. April's been a bonkers month and it could still get worse yet."