Two weather warnings have been issued for the east of England by the Met Office.

Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning a yellow warning has been issued, with snow expected on higher ground.

There is also the warning that clear spells between showers will allow ice to form on untreated surfaces.

The Met Office website adds: “Please be aware of some difficult driving conditions and the possibility of some low-level disruption.”

A further yellow warning has also been issued for the region, between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

The chief forecaster’s assessment says: “An occluded front is expected to push south across southern parts of the UK through Friday afternoon and evening before clearing the south coast by the early hours of Saturday morning.

“This occlusion will be accompanied by colder air from the northeast with a mix of wintry precipitation.

“As often is the case in snow situations in the UK whether the precipitation falls as rain or snow is finely balanced resulting in some uncertainty in the details of the rain and snow mix.

“At this time it is likely that snow will largely be confined to higher ground above 200-400m however sleet and snow may temporarily fall to lower levels in heavier precipitation.

“A greater hazard will come from the potential for widespread ice to form as skies clear through the evening behind the front allowing road surface temperatures fall below freezing.

“The frontal precipitation may also result in some wash off of grit to allow freezing on previously treated surfaces.”

Dan Holley, forecaster at East Anglian-based Weatherquest, said: “It’s difficult to say really how the rain balance will be, it would be wise to cater for a few wintry showers.

“There may be a centimetre locally, but it’s not causing too many problems.”

Mr Holley said weather towards the end of the week would see snow across the north of England and Wales, but there is “a lot of uncertainty over how it will play out” in the east of England.

However, if there was to be any snowfall it was unlikely to be significant.

“It’s not definite snow fall – it could be rain, it could be sleet,” Mr Holley added.

“We’re not talking snow days or anything like that – most people are probably disappointed in hearing that I’d imagine!”