WHILE Suffolk today shivered under snow a ray of light appeared on the horizon – spring is coming early.Snow falls across much of the county left people waking up to a white world.

WHILE Suffolk today shivered under snow a ray of light appeared on the horizon – spring is coming early.

Snow falls across much of the county left people waking up to a white world.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers warned worse was yet to come, but promised the first day of spring would be a day early this year.

He said: "Snow showers coming in off the North Sea will continue to sweep across Suffolk and Essex in the next 48 hours and they will become frequent and heavy.

"The worst day will be tomorrow. Some showers could give an inch or two of snow. The cold weather will continue for at least the next few days.

"At the end of the weekend we could see three or four inches of snow lying, which would be the heaviest we have seen for a few years.

"But spring is coming early this year. Most people thing March 21 is the first day of spring, but this year it will begin on March 20 when the sun crosses the equator."

Police said there had been no serious problems to report, although there were a few minor road shunts which seemed likely to be snow-related.

Mr Blowers said that while the current weather might cause one or two problems, it would be nothing like the last really heavy fall to hit Suffolk.

Up to 14in of snow was lying across the county after a 48-hour blizzard descended in February 1979 – leading to widespread chaos.

Suffolk was far from alone in suffering from the wintry weather. Snow falls hit Britain yesterday afternoon and carried on over night in some regions.

Every school in Camarthenshire, west Wales, was closed yesterday and Aberdeen was cloaked by nearly four and a half inches of snow.

The plane carrying Newcastle United back from their UEFA Cup tie in Norway was forced to circle about the city's airport, before diverting to Manchester and touching down more than 90 minutes late.

It seemed the worst of the weather was set for Britain's coastal fringes today – especially those facing north.

Central Britain seemed set to be spared most of the snow, although forecasters warned drivers to be prepared for falls almost anywhere.