GRITTERS were out in force across Suffolk this morning and last night as temperatures dropped to a bone-chilling -7C.

Simon Tomlinson

GRITTERS were out in force across Suffolk this morning and last night as temperatures dropped to a bone-chilling -7C.

Priority one routes were treated yesterday evening while priority two areas were tackled from 3am today in anticipation of more snow.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council, which is responsible for gritting, said: “We are expecting snow showers coming in from around daybreak with some accumulations.

“Snow will continue to be a hazard for the remainder of the week, but exact details are uncertain at this time. Temperatures on most nights are expected to fall to -4C or -5C.

“Because of the severe cold, the salt is less effective and we are advising people to be cautious when driving on all routes as ice could be a problem anywhere.”

Britain is facing one of the coldest winters in 100 years with conditions causing “widespread, persistent and severe” problems this week, forecasters warned.

With up to 4in (10cm) of snow due to fall in parts of the country today, heavier deluges are predicted to hit many others later this week, causing transport chaos on roads, trains and at airports.

MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said up to 6in (15cm) of snow could end up lying over “wide areas” by Friday, with the south experiencing “significant or even major difficulties to infrastructures, particularly transport”.