The forecast doubled the amount of snow expected in the Columbia area, as up to 2 inches of the white stuff is now forecast to accumulate, according to the warning. Between 2-3 inches of snowfall is possible in the southern reaches of the Midlands, meteorologists said in the briefing. Localized amounts in other areas could be higher.

The Met Office has warned that icy surfaces could lead to difficult travel conditions in the region. The areas in the East Midlands affected by the warning include Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

Flights have been delayed, roads closed and ferry services cancelled as 100mph winds pose a danger to life in parts of the UK on Friday morning. Rail services and flights have been axed, with rare red weather warnings issued for Scotland and Northern Ireland as Storm Eowyn is likely to damage buildings,

Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Arsenal to Molineux on Saturday when a yellow Met Office weather warning for ice is in place across a swathe of England and Wales

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice covering 35 towns and cities - with the icy blast set to strike this weekend