Cold weather and snow to persist for weekend

Heavy snow yesterday heralded a weekend of sub-zero temperatures and continuing blizzards in parts of the UK.

Meteorologists said the snowfall, which has affected the northern and eastern parts of the British Isles, will persist for a few days. Temperatures will drop to -4C or -5C overnight in Newcastle, which was briefly blanketed in an inch of snow. But forecasters said the blizzards, which will affect only the North-east and east coast, were not the return of the big freeze.

A Met Office spokesman said: "There will be snow showers, frost and cloud, which will affect the eastern part of the country through until Monday, and scattered snow showers elsewhere. The showers are coming from a long, narrow bank of cloud which has moved towards the coast from the east. Temperatures in the areas affected will drop to -1C or -C overnight tonight and will go down to around -4C or -5C in Newcastle. The rest of the country will have relatively clear fine weather. By Sunday, the East Midlands and London will have clear skies."