HEAVY snow storms are blanketing the region today as a fresh blast of Arctic weather sweeps in.

Temperatures are continuing to nosedive as the frost sets in with just one week to go until Christmas.

Conditions played havoc on the region’s roads last night as icy surfaces caused a string of collisions, and treacherous conditions are set to return tonight.

Country lanes and more remote areas are already experiencing icy driving conditions, while larger roads are set to be affected overnight as temperatures fall as low as -6C.

And things are not expected to improve much over the weekend, with temperatures staying below freezing tomorrow.

The slip road of the A14 at Sproughton was closed briefly last night after two cars collided.

Emergency services were called to the busy road at 6.41pm after a blue BMW and a silver Nissan Primera struck one another.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said that the slip road had been partially blocked and was closed while recovery was arranged.

He said that it was due to remain closed as officers waited for a gritter to attend the scene.

Those involved in the collision suffered minor injuries and no one was taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, a red Peugeot 306 GTI ploughed into a ditch on Candlet Road, Felixstowe.

Police arrived on the scene at 7.30pm. No one was injured in the incident.

A two-car crash on Wherstead Road in Ipswich left the road partially blocked - causing queuing traffic in both directions.

The collision took place shortly before 7.10pm, one person was being treated at the scene for shock.

Recent figures for gritting in Suffolk show that gritters have spread as much salt in November as they did throughout the whole of last winter.

Suffolk County Council have used 12,000 tonnes throughout Suffolk since the cold spell started.

The council have 6,000 tonnes left stockpiled and are buying an extra 5,000 tonnes this week.

This total of 18,000 tonnes of grit is 4,000 more than what was stockpiled during last winter, 2009-2010.

Graeme Lewin, Lead Officer for Winter Services at Suffolk County Council, said: “We are concerned because we don’t know when this bad weather is going to come to an end but we’re as prepared as we can be.

“The tonnage we’ve got coming in will certainly get us through Christmas and into January.”