Freezing winds from the Arctic are blasting Britain, with much of the country braced for snow showers.

Several roads have been closed in northern Scotland after heavy snow made driving conditions treacherous.

Snow showers are spreading down eastern England, affecting north Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Snow could hit more areas on Sunday.

Drivers are being warned of black ice on roads, with snow and rain due to fall on frozen surfaces overnight.

Britain Snow
© Press AssociationUp to 10cm of snow is likely to settle in places, the Met Office said
Temperatures could fall as low as -6C overnight in Scotland and eastern England.

In Scotland, several centimetres of snow has fallen, with 5cm (2in) recorded in Aberdeen.

The showers are due to become more widespread overnight and into Sunday, affecting eastern England, the Midlands and the south east.

Peter Gibbs from the BBC Weather Centre said: "People in the Midlands and eastern England could well wake up to a covering of snow in the morning."

The Met Office issued a weather advisory for northern Scotland, Suffolk and Norfolk on Saturday and for much of the UK on Sunday.

On Sunday the weather is due to become milder with the snow set to gradually melt throughout the day.

The AA has advised motorists to be aware of the greater stopping distances required in ice and snow.

Councils across the country are preparing gritter lorries to clear roads of any snow and ice.

And older people are being warned by charity Age Concern to take extra care to stay warm in the freezing weather.

Bookmakers William Hill have slashed the odds on snow falling on Christmas Day in London from 8/1 to 6/1 and in Glasgow the odds are 7/2.