FREEZING weather, snow and icy conditions have returned across the county in the last 24 hours, and forecasters are warning of more to come.

A yellow warning of ice and snow remains in place across the region for the rest of today and into tomorrow morning.

The Met Office has forecast persistent and heavy snow becoming confined to parts of southwest England and the West Country later this afternoon and evening.

Ice will form on untreated surfaces this evening, particularly where snow has melted through the afternoon.

Further accumulations of 1-4 cm of snow are likely, whilst greater amounts will occur locally, most of the heavy snow fall is in the south west area covered by the amber warning.

Overnight temperatures could reach -3 °C.

On Monday the region is expected to see a cold start, but will remain dry and the majority of the area can expect a dry and fine day with sunny spells. 

Temperatures will recover to closer to average, with a maximum temperature of 6 °C.

For the rest of the week will see spells of rain and stregthening winds, although with temperatures recovering closer to average.

Forecasters are warning that wintery conditions could continue well into April, with wetter than average weather expected across the south of the country.

Additionally, further snow is possible, especially in the north.

For the first half of the month of April temperatures will likely be below average with further night frosts, and any milder interludes will probably be only brief.