Snow, frost and icy blizzards: Winter arrives in Britain

Winter has finally arrived in Britain, with freezing showers, snow, frost and ice forecast as temperatures plummet below zero.

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The Met Office has predicted that as the week progresses, a freezing blast of snow will hit parts of the UK following an unseasonably warm December.

Despite last month being the wettest on record, it was the warmest ever December, when temperatures averaged 7.9C.

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However people are now being told to wrap up warm, with temperatures set to feel "very cold" into next weekend.

Although not exceptional for the time of year, compared to the recent mild weather it will be a sharp change for many – and is likely to be their first experience of freezing temperatures this winter.

There are also forecasts of rain, with the Environment Agency still holding 150 flood alerts and warnings across England and Wales following the devastating Christmas and new year floods.

Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are also being warned of the risk of frost and ice on roads.

Scotland and parts of north-east England saw a dusting of snow over the weekend, and MeteoGroup forecasters say more is likely in the coming days.

The Met Office has said that over the next five days, people should expect to feel "generally colder" because of an area of high pressure which will see temperatures struggling to reach 5C in the South and not rising above freezing further north.

Rain is forecast for Monday with the possibility of hill snow across eastern England, while in western Scotland and along the Irish coast there could be gusts of up to 60mph.

However the rest of the country can expect to enjoy a reasonably clear and bright day.

Tuesday will see another day of sunshine and showers which will turn wintry, especially over higher ground, as the cold weather begins to move down the country.

Tuesday evening is set to be the coldest night in a long time as wintry showers fall on high ground.

Wednesday into Thursday will be cold but settled and by the end of the week it will seem colder than of late as the northern air flow descends south.

The weekend is set to be very cold with temperatures predicted to fall below freezing.