Icy weather is on the way with an Arctic chill expected to grip the country at the weekend.

Weathermen have warned that temperatures will plunge below zero with parts of the country getting blizzards, icy winds and wintry showers.

Several weather warnings are in place and motoring organisations have warned that the snowy conditions could create hazardous driving conditions on the roads.

Snow was already falling at 10am this morning in parts of eastern Scotland and north east England as the weather front moved in from the Arctic.

The freezing conditions are expected to spread down the east coast of the UK with widespread snowfall across much of the UK on Sunday morning.

Temperatures in central and northern England will plunge as low as -4C with as much as 10cm of snow expected in some areas.

Forecaster Julian Mayes warned that the UK was in for a snap of cold weather with "bitingly cold winds."

He said: "On Sunday morning most places in the eastern half of Britain will start with snow.

"Some will come down heavily with several centimetres of cover on the ground.

"It will accumulate quickly but it will be a transient feature as it will begin to turn to rain."

Some bookmakers have slashed their odds on a white Christmas.

William Hill has reported record betting levels already and have cuts the odds on snow falling on Christmas Day in London from 8/1 to 6/1 and Glasgow is now as short as 7/2.

Spokesman Rupert Adams said: "We have never had so much money in the book with over a month to go. If it snows we will be paying out millions to our customers."

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