Britain is braced for more snow and the prospect of a second week of disruption.

Forecasters are warning that heavy rain sweeping in from the South West during the day could turn to snow over parts of Wales, the Midlands and the north.

Weatherman Tom Tobler said: "We can expect strong winds and heavy rain from the South West during the morning, and it could well turn to snow as it heads north over parts of Wales, the Midlands and north."

The predictions have forced the Government to widen its search for salt to keep the roads safe.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: "We are now buying in from abroad. I have just heard that we are getting some salt from Italy, there is a boat from Tunisia on its way.

"These are once in 20-year occurrences, so obviously we are not going to keep these stocks all the time, it would be a waste of taxpayers' money."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government added: "Following a Government request a number of European countries have made salt supplies available to us.

"We also understand that the key private sector salt suppliers in the UK, and some councils, have already arranged for their own overseas shipments which will be arriving in the UK in the coming days.

"We remain in close contact with suppliers to facilitate distribution of salt supplies to where they are most needed."

Gloucestershire County Council is sending out gritters with table salt to treat roads in the county.

A 26-year-old man was killed in a road accident in Northern Ireland as police warned of treacherous driving conditions in many areas.

Two other people were injured when the car they were travelling in crashed off the main A29 road between Dungannon and Cookstown in Co Tyrone.

The injured couple, a man and a women, were taken to hospital with injuries which police said were not thought to be life-threatening.

The man's death brought the toll on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year to seven.

The crash happened after a weekend of continuing snow and freezing conditions which police warned had made roads treacherous in many areas across the province. Freezing fog was adding to problems for motorists.

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