Snow’s appearance only fleeting, but more wintry weather may be on way

And last night the picture regionally was drying out, with the clouds moving southeastwards.

However, a last flurry of snow on the moorland stretch of the M62 caused some early evening delays in both directions.

Ice warnings were issued for this morning but today should be dry and bright generally.

Tomorrow should be similar, although there could be more snow in the west of the country.

But after tomorrow night, temperatures are forecast to keep dropping for a week.

Recent weeks have been “unseasonably mild”, said the Met Office, and the change is likely to be back towards standard winter – although an unusual worldwide pattern in the high atmosphere makes forecasting especially difficult just now.

Snow from Thursday was still in place yesterday in the most northerly English counties and high parts of Wales and Scotland.

The Met Office, added: “At the moment we have high pressure over eastern Europe trying to push cold air in while milder Atlantic air is trying to push in from the west.

“The colder air is set to win over the next few days.”