Could it be a white Easter for the first time in 25 years? The weathermen say so

Three inches of snow are predicted in parts of North and Central England and Scotland on Saturday night, giving children a chance to hunt for chocolate eggs in the garden while throwing snowballs.

Although snow is not unusual over the Easter weekend, particularly so early in the year, it could be the first time Easter Sunday has been white since 1983.

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"There'll be wintery showers and any snow that falls on Saturday night is likely to hang around," said a Met Office spokesman.

"The area from North-West England down to central parts could get snow, as could Wales. That means that even in low areas people could pull back their curtains on Easter Sunday to find an inch of snow."

High ground could get a dusting of up to three inches, he added.

Although this week sees the start of spring, Britain is bracing itself for snow, wind and icy rain with temperatures well below the average.

The North East will get some snow tomorrow while wintery showers are forecast for the East coast down to East Anglia on Saturday.

By Saturday night, snow could be falling on the Midlands and Wales.

Coldest parts will be in the East, where temperatures will be around 3 or 4C in the day.

Average temperatures are around 10C at this time of year - but this weekend will be more like 6 or 7C.

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"The coldest Easter on record was in 1964, when Easter weekend fell between March 27 and March 29," said the Met office.

"Temperatures in the South-East dropped to around six or seven degrees, and this will be close to that.

"It's going to be a wintry weekend and it will be windy as well, which will make it feel a lot colder than the temperatures suggest.

"It's worth bearing in mind that there's going to be a high wind chill factor. Picnics will be only for the brave."

It last snowed over Easter in 1998, when parts of Britain got a dusting on Good Friday, the day the historic agreement was signed in Northern Ireland.

This year's icy Easter will be in stark contrast to last year's, when temperatures soared to 19C in parts of England.

The warmest on record was in 1984 when Easter Sunday fell on 22 April and temperatures climbed above 20C.

This weekend's snow is unlikely to last on the ground beyond Sunday. Monday will be wet while temperatures will start to climb in the middle of next week.

The date of Easter was decided in the fourth century. It takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.