Schools shut as snow affects North Yorkshire and Aberdeen

Snow and ice has hit parts of the UK, forcing dozens of schools to shut and causing disruption for drivers.

Nineteen schools around Aberdeen are closed, and around a dozen more are shut in North Yorkshire.

Snow has fallen in places and overnight temperatures fell to a low of minus 6C last night in Pershore, Worcestershire.

Thursday set to be the coldest day of the week.

:: The latest weather forecast

The Met Office's chief meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: "Across the UK people will be feeling some pretty raw conditions as we go towards the start of winter, Thursday will feel especially cold with a biting northerly wind.

"This is exactly the sort of weather we would expect to see as we head into the winter months. The weekend looks to be mostly dry although it will be greyer and feeling slightly milder."

There are potential further warnings for Friday, but things are expected to calm down into the weekend.

The cold weather is being brought in from the Arctic by an area of low pressure to the east and a ridge of high pressure to the west.

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "There'll be more widespread wintry showers across eastern Scotland and eastern England with rain or sleet on the coast but some snow as the showers come inland on the chilly northerly wind. A fresh covering of snow is likely over the hills but only patchy light accumulations at low levels.

"However some places across southeast England, East Anglia and the East Midlands, who haven't seen any snow yet, may well see a little snow later this afternoon and into this evening.

"This cold spell will come to an end this weekend as the winds turn more west to northwesterly drawing slightly milder but cloudier conditions across us with some patchy rain. Nights will also be less frosty as a result."

Older people are being told to take precautions in light of the weather warnings.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "The cold weather is challenging for many older people, particularly if they are coping with ill health or living in housing that costs a lot to heat."

She said the elderly find it harder to adjust to big changes in temperature, with heart attacks and strokes more likely due to the cold raising blood pressure.

Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of "serious illness like flu and pneumonia", she warned.