YELLOW snow warnings have been issued as a "mini Beast from the East" is predicted to hit the region.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of ice for parts of southern Scotland and northern England on Saturday morning.

The warning will be in place from shortly after midnight on Friday until 9am.

"Following the clearance of an area of rain and snow, ice will form on untreated surfaces Friday evening and persist into Saturday morning," the chief forecaster said.

"Despite a cold day then on Saturday surface temperatures are expected to rise above freezing during the morning allowing ice to melt."

The warning will be in place from 6pm until 11.55pm, when up to 5cm of snow could fall over high ground.

Sunday will see "significant snowfall" with a maximum temperature of 1C, with nearly the whole of England and parts of Wales will also be under a yellow snow.

Drivers are being advised to avoid trans-Pennine roads, including the M62 (junctions 21 to 25), A628 and A66, if at all possible as well as the M1 between junctions 35 (Rotherham) and 47 (Garforth), the M606 near Bradford and the M621 near Leeds.

Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, Richard Leonard, said: “Our gritter drivers will be out treating our roads around the clock but it is still important to drive to the conditions when snow is forecast.

“Make sure you keep your distance and reduce your speed if you need to travel because, even in conditions that seem normal and when the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh salt has not been worked into the carriageway.

“Drivers should plan their journeys, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel if they really need to travel.”