SNOW began to fall in parts of Suffolk today as temperatures plummeted across the county.People were forced to wrap up against the freezing conditions as the wind chill hit -6C.

SNOW began to fall in parts of Suffolk today as temperatures plummeted across the county.

People were forced to wrap up against the freezing conditions as the wind chill hit -6C.

The Met Office issued a weather warning in East Anglia this morning, predicting heavy snow showers and a strong northerly winds across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Forecasters predicted two to five centimetres of snow would accumulate in some areas.

Snow began to fall in Tostock at about 10.30am today and was expected to spread to the south east of the county later in the day

Graeme Forrester, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “There is a small area of snow in the west of the county which is likely to spread south east.

“The places most at risk are Bury St Edmunds and the Colchester area.

“In the extreme north east of the county there are some showers around Lowestoft but most of them are slightly off shore at the moment.”

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers, said it was the wind chill which was making conditions feel bitterly cold.

He added: “There are very rare freezing winds and they are now coming straight from the Arctic.

“There will be no real quantity of snow here but there may be a few snow, sleet and hail showers today, tomorrow and Sunday.

“The wind speed now is 20-25mph and the wind chill is about -6C.”

Mr Blowers said he expected the cold spell to last until at least Tuesday.

The Met Office predicted few disruptions would be caused by the wintry weather in Suffolk.

Mr Forrester added: “It might give some lying snow on the grass and on the well shaded roads but most of the main roads will be clear as it will not last long enough or be heavy enough.”

The high winds did close the Port of Felixstowe this morning, causing delays for lorry drivers.

Elsewhere the weather created serious problems for motorists and schools with heavy snow fall in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Roads were closed and schoolchildren sent home in the north of Scotland yesterday after the first heavy snowfall of the winter.

Four hillwalkers had to be rescued after they got stranded in heavy blizzards on the plateau of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorm mountain range.

In South West England, following overnight snow, there was a spate of accidents and some road blockages, as well as a couple of trees down.