Britain braced for Arctic blizzards

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MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said the east was set to be worst hit as an Arctic front swept across the country in the first prolonged cold snap of the winter.

Motorists were warned to be prepared for hazardous driving conditions with up to 10cm (4in) of snow predicted in some places.

"There is likely to be a couple of hours of snowfall," said Rob Hutchinson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup UK. "Wales, the south west and Northern Ireland will probably escape but central and eastern England and Scotland will be affected. There could also be a couple of centimetres in London but the east is likely to be the worst hit with between 5 and 10cm."

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings along the east coast, from North Yorkshire to Suffolk.

Although much of the UK is set to wake up to a blanket of snow, much of it is likely to be washed away by rain as the day progresses, with milder air coming from the south west, MeteoGroup UK said.

The AA advised motorists to limit their speed to the conditions and to be aware of the greater stopping distances required in ice and snow. It said it was deploying snow-busting patrol vehicles to help rescue drivers stranded in ice and snow.

Meanwhile, councils across the country were getting gritters ready to clear roads of any snow and ice.

The charity Age Concern has warned older people to take extra care to stay warm in the freezing weather.

The cold front has prompted bookmakers William Hill to slash the odds of a white Christmas in London from 8/1 to 6/1.