UK weather latest: Britain braced for more freezing conditions as snow and ice warnings issued across country

Forecasters warn some roads and railways likely to be affected

Snow covered much of the country overnight, including Aberystwyth in west Wales (Keith Morris/LNP)

Britain remains braced for more wintry conditions after snow and ice warnings were issued for many parts of the country.

Temperatures throughout Thursday are set to linger in the single figures across the UK, but higher winds will make it feel only slightly warmer than Wednesday.

Heavy snow showers are expected to follow going into Friday as temperatures plummet after a spell of rain, sleet and hill snow, forecasters warned.

The Met Office has issued yellow "be prepared" warnings over snow and ice for most of Scotland, northern England, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The warnings come into force from 10pm on Thursday and will last until midday on Friday.

Forecasters said some roads and railways were likely to be affected, with longer journey times by road, bus and train services, while some injuries from slips and accidents on icy surfaces are possible.

The Met Office said: "Rain, sleet and hill snow is expected to clear northwestern Scotland late on Thursday evening, and these clearer conditions will spread to all parts by early Friday morning.

"Ice is expected to form as skies clear. Heavy snow showers will follow, and these will be most frequent across Northern Ireland and western Scotland, where 2-5 cm may accumulate above 100 metres with some snow to low levels too. Ice will be the main hazard across Northern England and Wales."

The Met Office has warned the cold snap could last into March.

Alex Burkill, chief forecaster at the weather agency, said: “Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side, so temperatures generally below average, with further frosts and also the risk of rain, sleet and snow as well.”

Additional reporting by PA