Cold snap hits parts of UK

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Jan 3, 2008, 12:08 GMT

(M&C) - Strong easterly winds have sent temperatures falling across much of the UK with the Met Office warning motorists to take care in the icy conditions.

The first snow has started to fall in Scotland and north-east England though snow showers in the south of the country are expected to turn into drizzle later in the day according to the Met.

Brendan Jones, forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It will be very patchy in nature. Some places probably won't see any at all."

"In eastern Scotland and parts of the north east of England there is already snow falling and some settling on the hills."

"Through this morning and this afternoon too there will be snow showers."

Police have been called out to a number of accidents and have closed the A1 northbound between Gosforth and Morpeth in Northumberland.

"A number of vehicles have become stuck in the snow and as a result police have decided not to allow any more through until conditions improve and recovery has taken place," said a Northumbria Police spokesman.

The cold weather is expected to clear by the end of the week according to forecasters.