AFTER the big freeze comes the big thaw and today slippery, slushy surfaces will prolong the treacherous nightmare on the roads for motorists.

SUFFOLK: After the big freeze comes the big thaw and today slippery, slushy surfaces will prolong the treacherous nightmare on the roads for motorists.

Sleet and snow has drenched the county resulting in another day of hazardous conditions as forecasters predict temperatures will start to rise in the coming days.

But the message to drivers remained the same, with police officers urging caution on the roads, as the thawing snow leaves wet surfaces at risk of freezing.

Yesterday, two toddlers were involved in accidents on icy roads in Suffolk.

In Bramford Road, Ipswich, a four-year-old boy was involved in a collision with a Blue Mazda.

Suffering head injuries the youngster was checked by paramedics who left him in the care of his mother.

Meanwhile, between Raglan Street and Stanley Street, in Lowestoft, another toddler suffered head injuries after being involved in a collision with a car, an MG Rover. The child was taken to the James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston.

And the pressure on the AA has continued as the breakdown service reported attending an expected 17,000 incidents yesterday, 8,000 more than a normal Wednesday.

But good news came from Suffolk County Council as a spokeswoman revealed they took delivery of 1,700 tonnes of salt at Ipswich Docks which is now bound for our roads.

And weather experts are predicting a warmer weekend, with temperatures creeping above freezing and the threat of rain showers as opposed to snow flurries late on Saturday.

Speaking last night John Law, a forecaster at Weatherquest, said of today's forecast: “Watch out for mist and fog lingering, where the fog lingers the longest temperatures will struggle to get above freezing. It is still going to be cold enough for frost and ice so the road conditions could still be difficult.

“Generally it will be a dry day with the best temperatures in the eastern side of the county reaching between 2C and 3C. Further inland the temperatures will hover around freezing.

“The weekend is set to be better with the winds picking up on Saturday and an area of rain feeding across later in the day. Sunday will hopefully be a drier, brighter day.”

Meanwhile, in Nazeing, Essex, fire crews and marine divers from the Metropolitan Police discovered the body of a woman who had fallen through ice into a lake.

The body of a woman, in her 40s, was found shortly before 6pm last night after reports that a local person had gone missing while attempting to rescue her dog from the water.