Tumbling temperatures as Blackthorn Winter arrives

Tonight will be freezing, frosty and icy in places and temperatures could well dip to -6C in rural spots with patchy fog developing in Northern Ireland.

It'll be a bitterly cold but sunny start tomorrow - beautifully clear and crisp before a little more cloud develops in the afternoon. The occasional shower will crop up through eastern England but the majority will stay fine and dry.

Like today it'll stay chilly for the time of year but feeling pleasant in prolonged Spring time sunshine.

After a chilly, clear start to tomorrow night rain will sweep in from the west as as it slips into colder air, short lived sleet and snow will develop across higher hill tops of northern and western Britain. Expect a grey, soggy start on Thursday before conditions gradually improve and the sunny skies return.

It'll remain cold for the time of year through most of the week - despite the clock change and BST starting at the weekend. A cold snap in the Spring is known as a Blackthorn Winter - named after the small tree which blossoms this time of year before producing sloes later in the year

ITV Weather Presenter Lucy Verasamy with the latest forecast: