Motorists in Scotland have been warned to prepare for hazardous road conditions, with wintry weather expected to hit hard in the coming days.

Officials believe strong winds will be the most immediate issue facing commuters, with some restrictions expected on road bridges on Wednesday.

There is also a risk of snow drifts on higher routes as sleet and snow sweeps in on Thursday and Friday.

Most of Scotland is covered by Met Office yellow "be aware" warnings for strong winds and wintry showers from Wednesday through to Friday.

Chief Superintendent Andy Edmonston, head of road policing at Police Scotland, urged anyone setting out on a journey to be well-prepared.

He said: "With a risk of weather-related disruption for the remainder of the working week, motorists should bear in mind the risk of potentially hazardous driving conditions to come.

"If you are travelling, please ensure your vehicle is well prepared before setting off; making sure your windscreens are completely free of snow and ice; ensure your number plate is clear; and your lights are working and clean.

"Ensure you have sufficient fuel in the vehicle as well as supplies for yourself and passengers, including food, water, warm clothes and a fully-charged mobile phone.

"Check your route before you set off and consider options for an alternative route if necessary."

Other forms of public transport could also be affected by the wintry weather.

Caledonian MacBrayne is warning anyone planning to travel by ferry on Wednesday and Thursday that some services may be disrupted.

Operations director Drew Collier said: "Weather forecasts for across the west of Scotland are predicting a windy and cold run-up to the weekend.

"We will review sailings on a case-by-case basis but would advise anyone planning to travel by ferry to take this into account when planning journeys in the next few days."

Scottish Government ministers have been updated on preparations for the weather at a meeting of their resilience team.

Ministers said gritting teams will be out over the coming days to help keep the trunk roads moving.

Utility companies are also putting arrangements in place to cope with any weather-related incidents.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "We will be seeing cold and windy conditions over the next few days and plans are in place to help us do all we can to mitigate the impact of the snow and galeforce winds.

"The transport network is likely to be the first sector affected by strong winds on Wednesday with possibility of HGV restrictions on bridges.

"Our winter treatments will be carried out across the period with patrols out where required. We have more gritters available than before and salt is in plentiful supply."