A COLD spell is predicted for Glasgow next week with snow to blanket the country.

Temperatures are set to drop from Monday, January 16 with wintry showers moving across the city from the north.

Fresh and breezy conditions are also expected to bring strong winds with a risk of gales.

A weather map by WXCharts shows snow covering most of Glasgow and the west coast on Monday, before moving to the north east of England later in the week. 

In a long-range weather statement, the Met Office said: "Much of this period is likely to be rather unsettled. On Monday, with cold air in place, showers are likely to be wintry across the north, even to low levels, with some wintriness in showers further south too, but equally there will be some sunny spells.

"For the following few days, the most likely scenario is one of generally colder conditions, compared to recently, to dominate, with potential for brief incursions of milder air tied with Atlantic frontal systems.

"This means further wet weather is likely, especially in the west, with perhaps a greater incidence of snow compared to what we've seen so far in January. Strong winds or gales are also possible at times."