THE FUSE

Icy conditions will sweep into more parts of the UK overnight, after snow and ice forced hundreds of schools to shut and closed roads in the worst-hit areas.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for ice in north-east Scotland, western Wales, south-west England, and along England's east coast, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders into Friday. Snow and ice warnings are already in place in some areas.

The North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds are under an amber warning for snow and could see between 15-25 cm (6-10ins).

Thursday is expected to see the week's coldest night, with temperatures widely falling below zero and down to -12C in rural Scotland.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold-health alerts for England until Saturday, saying there could be significant impacts to the elderly and people with health conditions.

Snow blanketed locations across the country on Thursday, with Altnaharra in northern Scotland and Loch Glascarnoch in west Scotland recording 9 cm as of 11:00 GMT.

The snow and ice yellow warnings currently in place are:

Cornwall and parts of Devon, and Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Swansea until 23:59
North-east England until 23:59
Central and northern Scotland until 21:00

In these regions, expect 2 to 5cm of snow, even for low-lying areas, with perhaps as much as 10 to 20cm of snow for the highest ground in northern Scotland.

The yellow ice warnings due to come into force later on Thursday are:

South-west England from 18:00 to 11:00 on Friday
Eastern and south-east England from 18:00 Thursday until 11:00 Friday
North-east Scotland from 21:00 to 11:00 on Friday
North-east England from 00:00 until 12:00 Friday
Western Wales from 00:00 to 11:00 on Friday

A yellow warning for snow and ice in the East of England expired at 11:00 on Thursday and 12:00 in Northern Ireland.

Walking on the North York Moors, which are under an amber warning for snow

In the North York Moors and parts of the Yorkshire Wolds, where the more severe amber warning is in place until 21:00 on Thursday, significant disruption is expected, the Met Office said.

Gusty winds with occasional blizzard conditions, and potentially a few lightning strikes, could come with the snow showers, posing additional hazards.

Thirty-three schools in North Yorkshire were closed on Thursday, while eight were listed as fully closed in East Yorkshire.

A snow covered car on the A169 between Pickering and Whitby on the North York Moors

In north-east Scotland, more than 100 schools were shuttered as heavy snow caused further disruption across the region.

Aberdeenshire Council said dozens of schools could not open, with schools in Moray and the Highlands also closed.

Major roads, including parts of the A90, have shut, and police are urging drivers to avoid the area.

In Wales, National Grid said hundreds of properties in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire were without power.

Dyfed-Powys Police has warned of poor driving conditions in parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, leading to roads being closed. Many bus services have also been cancelled.

More than 30 schools were closed in Pembrokeshire, seven in Ceredigion and 14 in Carmarthenshire.

Ela McLoughlin, 14, was glad to be off school in Crymych. She, Helen McLoughlin, Conan Blake and their dog Madog walked up Foel Drygarn in the morning and saw people skiing.

Helen Mcloughlin, Ela Mcloughlin, 14, Conan Blake and dog Madog, wearing winter gear, pose and smile outside a snow-covered home and car.

In England, amber cold-health alerts have been issued by the UKHSA until 08:00 on Saturday for the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber, with all other areas under less-severe yellow alerts.

The alerts warn health and social care services of significant impacts to more vulnerable members of the community.

Alex Parker, from the North Yorkshire branch of charity Age UK, told the BBC he is "really concerned about the people that we support" and their "ability to get out and about, to be able to continue with their daily lives and to make sure they're safe and comfortable in their own homes".

That includes staying warm at home, as well as accessing food, drinks and medication.

Mr Parker is encouraging people to check in on elderly or vulnerable friends or neighbours.

In Beverley, David Jefferson, 79, told the BBC he finds the snow "difficult to walk in, especially when you get to my time of life."

"The sooner it goes the better really."