SNOW has been reported in North Yorkshire - after weather forecasters issued a warning for freezing temperatures and snow this week, as a blast of Arctic air brings winter-like conditions for a short time.

Despite the approach of May, weather experts say that summer will feel a long way off.

There have been reports of snow on the Stang, in North Yorkshire, from lunchtime.

The mercury in parts of the North-East will struggle to reach just 7 degrees Celsius (47F) - about 4 degrees Celsius below the average for this time of year.

Global temperature records were broken in January, February and March, Nasa announced last week, but the UK is unlikely to feel the benefit of this trend this week.

The region will also see gale force winds in exposed areas.

The Met Office predicts frequent showers which will mainly fall as rain but Scotland and parts of northern England - especially on high ground - may see snow.

Overnight it will be cold enough for a frost.

Met Office forecaster Emma Boorman said: "It's going to be cold this week, particularly at the start of the week.

"Winds are coming from the north. The originated in the Arctic and that's why it is colder than we normally expect it to be at this time of year.

"In the South it will be mixture of sunshine and showers but further north these showers will turn increasingly wintry - that's a mixture of rain, some sleet and some snow.

"The winds will be strengthening through Monday and so this afternoon they could reach gale force in Scotland and then early evening in the north of England as well.

"Later on, eastern swathes of the country could see some winds reaching gale force."