Northerly winds are expected to send the mercury tumbling, with sub-zero temperatures possible in Scotland at the weekend.

Julian Mayes, senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It's going to be getting windy on Thursday and Good Friday, and there will be showers which might turn wintry.

"There will be quite a wind chill with this northerly wind."

Patchy frost is expected on Friday, and parts of Scotland could see temperatures as low as -3C or -4C on Saturday, he said.

The tops of the Cairngorm mountains may even be as cold as -8C.

"It's going to feel bitterly cold," Mr Mayes said, "but there will be bright sunshine as well, so if people wrap up well it won't be too miserable."