THUNDERSNOW has been causing disruption in East Lothian this morning, with some school bus services unable to operate.

Two yellow 'be aware' weather warnings were issued for the county by the Met Office, one for snow that ended at 9am this morning and a second for rain that runs until 11.59pm tonight.

Last night saw freezing cold temperatures, loud thunder and extensive lightning that gave several residents an unexpected early wake-up call.

Residents were awoken by what some thought was the sound of explosions or a building collapsing between 3am and 5am, with some calling Police Scotland in concern.

Thankfully, the “extraordinarily loud” noises were, in fact, ‘thundersnow’, occurring when thunder and lightning combine with a heavy snowstorm.

It was also said to have caused several car alarms to go off.

Meanwhile, Jane Purves from Gifford was woken up at 3am to a loud crashing sound.

A tree near her house was struck by lightning, with a large branch from it crashing down outside her house; thankfully, nobody was hurt and her house was not damaged.

READ MORE: Lightning during thundersnow causes redwood tree to 'explode'

The heavy snow and rain has affected some school bus services today.

Prentice Coaches said that it was not able to run three of its school bus services to Yester Primary School, with buses taking pupils from Gifford to Knox Academy in Haddington, those covering the outlying areas in and around Humbie, and buses taking pupils from Humbie to Ross High School in Tranent all unable to collect pupils.

A council spokesperson said: “Buses have been unable to collect school pupils in some rural locations due to snow/wintery weather.

“Affected services are the 118, 119 and 120 routes which serve some pupils attending Yester Primary School.

“The 121 which serves Yester Primary and Knox Academy is also affected. The 158 serving Knox Academy has been unable to make pickups from rural locations and left from Main Street, Gifford, only.

“The 169 serving Ross High School was unable to access the Leaston or Stobshiels areas. The 108 serving Humbie Primary School was delayed.”

Buses are not the only ones to be affected by the snow this morning.

One driver got stuck near the A68 at about 5.30am.

No roads in East Lothian are closed as a result of the weather, with gritters out yesterday evening (Thursday).

They worked through the night, with a particular focus on hill routes, where the majority of the snow fell.

Gritters were out again this morning from 5am, with staff working on all main priority routes.

Priority footways were attended to yesterday afternoon and evening, and again since 6am this morning.

One section of road that did close, however, was the Queensferry Crossing at 4.45am due to ice falling from the bridge towers. It fully reopened at 9.05am.