Snow and ice warnings for north-west England

The Met Office is warning motorists to take care on potentially icy roads

Weather warnings for snow, ice and sleet have been issued for most of the north-west of England.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice, which is in place from 19:00 GMT to 10:00 GMT Tuesday.

Western coastal areas including Southport, Blackpool and Formby are the few areas exempt from the warning.

The wintry weather could cause power cuts and potentially impact mobile phone coverage, roads and railways, the forecaster said.

The warning area covers most of England's north

A Met Office spokesperson said: "A spell of snow may bring disruption during Monday night and Tuesday morning."

They said snow would most likely accumulate on hills, with five to 10cm possible above 200m, and up to 15 to 20cm above 300m.

They added: "There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5 to 10cm would prove much more disruptive, but this remains very uncertain but seems most likely across parts of Yorkshire and Derbyshire."

The office has warned people in affected areas to take care on icy roads and footpaths, and said there was a "slight chance" some rural communities could be cut off.

"As rain, sleet and snow clear on Tuesday morning, ice may form on untreated surfaces," it said.

The affected areas are:

• Blackburn with Darwen

• Cheshire East

• Cheshire West and Chester

• Cumbria

• Greater Manchester

• Halton

• Lancashire

• Merseyside

• Warrington