Cold snap on the way as snow barrels in from Scandinavia

Britons are being told to prepare for plummeting temperatures over the weekend as icy wind and snow batters the country.

The North East is expected to see as much as 4in (10cm) on higher ground as the weather front moves in from Scandinavia.

The weather warnings are in force from 6pm on Friday until 10am on Saturday, covering higher ground in the North between Sheffield and Edinburgh, and Kent and Sussex in the South East.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for the South East, central England and parts of southern Scotland, with icy roads and drifting snow potentially causing problems for those out travelling.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a warning concerning the weather and have said that the colder air from Scandinavia, while not freezing, will feel a lot more raw than average with a biting edge.
Health officials have warned the elderly and sick to stock up on essential medicines and food ahead of the cold snap.