Shivering region braced for snow

Snow could be on its way as temperatures fall below freezing in the West Midlands and Staffordshire. Forecasters are predicting bitterly cold weather.

They say it could lead to snowfall tomorrow and Friday. Daytime temperatures will struggle to get above -1C (30F), and with bitterly winds from the east, it will feel much colder.

Gritting lorries in the region were today being prepared as motoring organisations warned drivers to take extra care.

Met Office spokesman Barry Grommett said: "The significant feature of the weather in the West Midlands will be the temperature. It will be very cold overnight this evening, and we will see some frost.

"In the early part of tomorrow morning, temperatures could fall to -2C (28F) but coupled with strong winds, it is going to feel particularly cold."

He said the West Midlands would see some snow but the main problems will be further east, where more than half an inch is likely.

The Highways Agency says it is on stand-by for a dip in temperatures.

Stephen Davenport, senior meteorologist at MeteoGroup, said the cold snap was due to conditions in Eastern Europe, rather than the cold winds from Siberia.