AN icy blast is set to hit the country next week raising fears of snow and disruption for people across the region.

The Met Office is predicting wintry showers across the east of England towards the end of next week, with a possibility of snow piling up in outlying areas.

This raises fears of return to the travel chaos of last December after a blast of Arctic temperatures, which saw roads across the region grind to a halt amid drifts of snow and icy surfaces.

Forecasters are warning temperatures next week will be lower than average for this time of year, with frosty mornings and icy roads becoming more likely as the cold snap continues.

The weather will start to take a turn for the worse this weekend, as a cold north-easterly wind brings noticeably colder temperatures to the region, coupled with cloud and a few showers.

But the full force of the icy blast will not hit the region until the latter half of the week.

John Law, forecaster at weather experts Weatherquest, said: 'As we head through to next week, we will start to see cooler weather which will bring in some wintry weather.

'We will have wintry showers and that might include some snow showers.

'But we have got to expect some cold conditions as we get into the winter months.'

The cold weather looks likely to continue into December across most parts of the country and people are being advised to keep an eye out for vulnerable friends and neighbours.