THE heavy snow which blighted the region two weeks ago is poised to return this week as conditions start to deteriorate over the next few days.

Although conditions have improved over the last few days it is widely predicted that snow could begin falling again later this week.

Steve Western, a forecaster at Weatherquest, said: “There is a chance that we could see some snowfall this week and in the days leading up until Christmas.

“However, the weather reports we have received so far have been conflicting so I would urge people not to panic just yet.”

Last week forecasters at British Weather Services (BWS) predicted that heavy snowfall would make the Christmas period a “living nightmare” for people across the UK.

Jim Dale, senior risk meteorologist from BWS said: “The heavyweight cold air over northern Europe isn’t going anywhere fast and as mild weather stretches north to Greenland, the outflow of frigid air from the northeast is set to bring us all back into the deep freezer, possibly for a lengthy period. “Without wishing to scare people, the deep winter situation we are facing up to will require everyone to be well prepared over Christmas.

“Christmas is still a relatively long way off, but given what I am seeing right now and comparing it to charts of other stand-out wintry Decembers, I am 90 per cent sure that we will see a Christmas run-in fraught with harshness and hazards; and the grip of winter could well hold us tight well into the New Year.”

The Met Office has issued weather advisories throughout the week and warns there will be a risk of widespread ice affecting untreated surfaces.

There were some early signs of things to come yesterday morning as motorists were warned to take care of ice across Suffolk.

A female driver flipped her car onto its side in Ipswich at around 8am.

She was taken to Ipswich hospital with a minor neck injury after the incident in Alnesbourn Crescent. Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Ice is believed to have been a factor.

Meanwhile, bosses at Suffolk County Council said that grit supplies were “adequate at present” and more deliveries were expected before Christmas Day.