Parts of the UK are set to be hit by heavy snow this weekend, as a cold snap sweeps in from the Arctic.

Snow was falling yesterday in parts of Scotland and north-east England, with around 5cm in Aberdeen.

The freezing weather will continue to move down the east coast of the UK with snowfall predicted for much of the country on Sunday.

Temperatures in central and northern England are expected to drop as low as -5 Celsius with as much as 10cm of snow forecast.

Paul Mott, forecaster of MeteoGroup UK, said the South West, west Wales and Northern Ireland will escape the snowy conditions but can expect freezing temperatures.

The Met Office has issued a weather advisory for northern Scotland, Suffolk and Norfolk and for much of the UK tomorrow.

The AA have advised motorists to only drive as fast as conditions allow and to be aware of the greater stopping distances required in ice and snow.

Meanwhile, councils across the country were getting gritters ready to clear roads of any snow and ice.

The charity Age Concern has warned older people to take extra care to stay warm in the freezing weather.

A cold snap in late November would traditionally mark the start of winter - but this year has already seen snow covering parts of the south east of England, including London in late October.

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