Batten down the hatches

THERE is a bad weather warning for the country as the New Year approaches.

The met office has forecast a 550 miles wide 'snow bomb' hitting the country as we go into the New Year, Janet Friend reports.

A cold Arctic vortex is forecasted to cover the country, blanketing everywhere from Northern Ireland in the west to the east of England, including Norfolk.

Start on Tuesday afternoon

The snowfall is expected to start on Tuesday afternoon, New Year's Eve in Cumbria, then to progress south during the rest of the day hitting large parts of Wales, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, Lancashire and  South Yorkshire.

It is understood the snow showers could shift southwards, covering the Midlands and finally spread down into the capital.

So be prepared.