Waking to a winter wonderland

Frosty scenes around Ford, near Shrewsbury, today. Photo by Peter Shah.

People across Shropshire and Mid Wales woke to a Christmas picture postcard scene today with a white covering across the countryside.

Frost blanketed people's cars and gardens this morning, and the cold snap looks set to stay a little longer with weather experts predicting more freezing temperatures and snow on the way.

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John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, said: "Sleet and snow is coming from the north and is expected to hit the county at about 4am tomorrow."

Mr Warner warned of another cold night : "Overnight tonight temperatures will drop to a minimum of -3C (27F) and for the next couple of days there will be snow and sleet, but temperatures will rise to around 7C (45F) on Thursday, marking the start of a milder weekend."

Conditions on the roads were wet this morning and drivers were told to be "extra vigilant" over the next couple of days.

Motorists have been advised to carry out checks on their vehicles and to top up their windscreen wash levels.

People in Shropshire will have to wrap up warm over the next few days as weather experts today warned the county was facing snow and sleet.

Temperatures were expected to plummet over the next two days after people in the county awoke to freezing conditions today.

Shropshire Star weatherman John Warner said that the county could expect to see flurries of snow and sleet showers in the early hours of tomorrow.

Temperatures had dropped to -4.5C (24F) overnight.

Mr Warner warned that snow and sleet will layer the Shropshire Hills and landscapes tonight before temperatures rise later in the week.

Mr Warner said: "Thursday and Friday will become much milder, reaching up to 7C (45F) and so ice and sleet should be gone by then."

Although the temperatures were normal for this time of year in Shropshire, other areas were even colder, with the Lake District falling to -11.3C (12F).

Saturday saw county motorists struggle through a thick blanket of fog.

Police today warned drivers to be extra-vigilant with the freezing conditions and urged people to check their cars before long journeys.

People using county roads to get to work and take children to school were urged to leave extra time for their journey and only to make essential journeys if the county was hit by bad snow.

Oswestry Borough Council spokesman Paul Newns said: "Temperatures certainly have fallen in the area, but we are not aware of any major problems. The gritters have been out as normal and keeping roads clear and safe."

And the cold weather did not deter shoppers from starting their Christmas shopping this weekend as cars queued to get into retail parks across the county.

One motorist, who did not want to be named, said she queued for 30 minutes to get into Wrekin Retail Park on Saturday as hundreds of people hit the stores.

By Emma Black

Sign of the times . . . the scene in Isombridge today. Picture: Andrew Cunningham.

Cattle huddle together against the cold in Ford. Picture: Peter Shah.

Frosty scenes around Ford, near Shrewsbury, this morning. Picture: Peter Shah.

A chilly scene in the fields of Wollerton, near Market Drayton. Picture: Rose Pearce.

The leaves of this shrub are beautifully edged with frost. Picture: Rose Pearce.