FORECASTERS have issued a yellow warning of ice as freezing weather sweeps across the country this week.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 2 degrees during the morning rush hour tomorrow with the Met Office warning of icy conditions across the north west from 10pm tonight, Wednesday, to 11am tomorrow, Thursday.

Icy patches are expected to develop throughout the night with wintry showers also affecting some areas.

The warning adds to watch out for slips and falls on icy surfaces and to drive carefully on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

A Met Office spokesman added: "Icy patches are expected to develop later Wednesday evening or overnight over southern Scotland and Northern Ireland and during the early hours of Thursday over England and and Wales.

"There will also be some wintry showers about, mainly over hills and mountains, but also to some lower levels at times, most likely in parts of Scotland and northern, eastern and central England. "With the exception of high ground, most places will not see any snow settling."