FORECASTERS are predicting up to 10cm of snow as the North East faces the coldest weekend of the winter so far.

After issuing a severe weather warning for the region, Met Office officials are predicting temperatures around the North East may drop as low as -8C, with the possibility of even lower temperatures on higher ground.

Showers of snow and sleet are expected today, along with driving wind and icy conditions.

Helen Chivers of the Met Office said: “We’re expecting light snow showers will start about lunchtime and they may well get heavier as they continue into the afternoon.

“Unfortunately though, cloud cover will likely dissipate by the evening meaning the North East can expect extremely icy conditions tonight and tomorrow morning.”

She added: “The best advice we can give is that people try to be as up-to-date with weather reports as possible.”

Already, snow has hit parts of the North East and Cumbria. Katherine Renwick, of the Hartside Top Café on Hartside Pass near Alston, Cumbria, said: “We’ve already had about four inches of white, fluffy snow and it’s been as cold as -14C at night.”

But officials say the weather won’t cause public transport chaos as precautions have been taken to keep the region moving. Figures from the Department of Transport show that the North East’s salt stocks are 298% up on last year, with 137,778 tonnes ready for the region’s roads.

A spokesperson for Nexus, which runs the Tyne and Wear Metro, said: “We’ve learned many lessons from the heavy winters of the last few years.

“In preparation for this weekend we have staff working around the clock to ensure that Metro trains and buses still arrive on time.

“As well as those already working, many more dedicated Nexus employees remain on call, ready to come in and clear tracks if need be.”

Newcastle International Airport is also taking precautions have been taken to keep disruptions to a minimum. Graeme Mason, planning and corporate affairs director, said: “As always, the team is fully prepared for winter weather conditions. Should such conditions occur, they will work tirelessly to keep the airport operational.”

Nationally, the deep freeze has seen daytime temperatures plummet four or five degrees lower than average for February.