GRITTERS are ready to hit West Fife roads as snow is expected in Dunfermline over the next 24 hours.

An alert issued within the last few minutes by Fife Council's roads department read: "It is expected to be mostly dry and sunny through the afternoon. Cloud likely to build overnight ahead of some sleet from around 0200hrs, possibly falling as snow above 200m. It may be heavy at times and will continue through Thursday morning, beginning to clear by midday. Road surface temperatures are likely to fall below zero during this sleet/snow. All areas: Load and monitor and fit ploughs to two gritters in each area. Conditions will be monitored very closely."

THE Met Office has issued a Yellow 'Be Aware' warning for snow in Fife from 2am until 6pm on Thursday.

The latest forecast shows sleet in Dunfermline between 5am-7am tomorrow with heavy snow predicted for Dunfermline at 8am during rush hour and as school buses take pupils to school and again at 11am and 12pm, with sleet in between.

The combination of snow, strong winds and heavy rain is likely to lead to disruption to transport networks and perhaps power supplies.

The Met office says snow accumulations of 5 to 10 centimetres are expected on some hills with 2 to 5 cms possible to lower levels to the north of the Central Lowlands.

The largest accumulations of 10 to 20 cms are likely on highest parts of the north Pennines and Southern Uplands.

In addition, strong winds are expected to develop with gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

This will result in drifting of the snow and blizzard conditions over high ground.

Associated heavy rain at lower levels will be an additional hazard.