More snow is predicted this weekend across Suffolk as the temperature hovers around freezing.

THE county is gearing up for consistent snow this evening.

Forecasters have suggested that Suffolk will see accummulations of about 4ins with the heaviest flurries expected between 2pm and 10pm.

Snow is already falling in parts of north Essex and experts at MeteoGroup have said it is unlikely to clear until dawn Monday.

The Met Office are also predicting about 4ins of snow and have put a yellow ‘be aware’ ice warning in place today and on Monday.

Billy Payne of MeteoGroup said:“It’s just going to keep snowing really throughout the afternoon. It has been fairly light this morning. Looking at the radar there is a fairly extensive bank of snow across East Anglia.

“There are signs of heavier snow developing throughout the afternoon. The snow will keep coming throughout the day and our models are showing over 10cm places by tomorrow morning.”

He added: “It is going to be there for much of the night too, perhaps only really starting to clear as approach dawn. The heavy bursts will be between 2pm and late evening – about 9pm or 10pm.”

By 6pm snow had started to settle in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich after fresh snow had fallen steadily since lunchtime. The worst of the snow is expected to fall later this evening.

Matthew Riches, in charge of county gritting operations said 43 gritters will be going out across the county to treat Priority 1 and 2 routes - A and B roads along with main roads in and out of villages.

He added: “I’ve been really pleased with the performance of our gritting teams - we’ve been working round the clock since Sunday,” Mr Riches said.

“I’m also grateful that the snowfall was less than forecast leaving us to deal with what is expected on Sunday.

“We had a robust plan to deal with an event that in fact did not turn out quite so bad as we thought it might.

“We get through salt at a colossal rate but we’ve got replacement on order so we’re not that concerned.”

Since Sunday January 13 the county council have used about 6,000 tonnes of salt on Suffolk’s roads. There is between 9,000 and 10,000 tonnes of salt left with another 1, 900 tonnes of salt coming into the county today.

A further 1,200 tonnes is due on Friday and a further 7,400 tonnes is on order.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said: “ The county council’s highways team will be monitoring the levels of snowfall across the county during Sunday. Depending on the depth of snowfall we will mobilise a number of farmers from all over Suffolk to help clear snow in rural areas.”

Suffolk police confirmed there had been no “major incidents” - but the A12 at Saxmundham is blocked in both directions at Benhall Green because a lorry is stuck in the road, while slip roads are closed on the A12 southbound in Ufford at the turn for Melton because of a gas leak and emergency repairs,

A single vehicle accident on the A14 eastbound in Risbyi is also causing disruptions.

Greater Anglia trains have said they will run its planned service over the weekend and are not currently reporting any weather-related delays.

A spokesman for the AA and Suffolk police urged people to take care while travelling on the county’s roads, in particular around the A12 near Dedham following two non-injury incidents.

A spokesman for Essex Police said there had been a number of minor incidents and asked motorists to make sure their vehicles are ready for poor driving conditions.

Ipswich Borough Council has reported that the town’s Old and Lawn Cemeteries have been closed today, due to ice.

Mr Payne said Monday looks relatively dry with most snow going north, although some snow could fall in the evening.