FORECASTERS are warning that an Arctic blast could leave the North East sodden and freezing in the coming days.

With more heavy rain set to sweep across the region, fears are that floods will give way to icy, dangerous driving conditions as temperatures plummet and it could feel as cold as -5C.

A spokesman for the Met Office, Dan Williams, said the cold snap could last a while.

“Temperatures in the North East are certainly going to get colder as we go through the back end of this week, and overnight particularly there will be a potential for freezing temperatures,” he said.

“We expect a lot of rural areas will be into minus figures and they will see frost and wintry showers, especially on high ground.

“With run-off from the very wet fields that could cause problems with ice on the roads.”

Already snow has fallen in the North Pennines, with families yesterday waking to find a blanket of white on higher ground.

But it seems there may be no let up in the cold snap as the mercury is set to stay firmly below average heading into December.

“The 30 day outlook is for more settled but colder weather, with strengthening northerly winds,” said Mr Williams. “It will be colder than average with frost and fog, and an increased risk of some snow.”