SNOW showers are set to hit parts of the region as a blast of Arctic weather moves south.

Met Office forecasters say the northern hills, including the North York Moors, are most likely to see snow as the cold weather moves into England over the day.

But wintry showers could develop anywhere across North Yorkshire and the North-East, although any snow is unlikely to settle on lower ground.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the air moving over Britain from the Arctic will bring large thunder clouds which could result in hailstorms, thunder and lightning as well as the possibility of sleet and snow flurries.

He said: "As we go over the next 36 hours those wintry showers will become quite frequent.

"There's a possibility of wintry showers just about anywhere in the UK tomorrow but more likely is that people anywhere, really, could see hail."

Mr Madge said late April snow was not unusual. He said: "It's possibly created a bit of a surprise for people because we've had such a mild March.

"I think it was the 5th mildest March in the record going back to 1910.

"So, I think the fact we've got cold weather in combination with a warm March is probably a bit of a shock for people.

"This is a sudden, brief interlude but it's not unusual."

The Met Office is expecting the weather to warm-up towards the end of the week.