Roads and pavements were today described as treacherous as families were warned they face black ice and snow for the big Christmas getaway.

Temperatures plummeted to -4C (25F) in the region overnight and with more snow predicted for this evening the Met Office has warned of dangerous conditions.

Spokesman Dave Elliott said: “Showers coming up from the south tonight are expected to cause sheet ice, as the rain falls and freezes on existing ice and snow. This is the biggest problem we are seeing.

“The rain should quite readily turn to snow in the Black Country, by around 6pm today. Although this will fizzle out overnight we are expected to see a few centimetres falling.”

Icy conditions caused a passenger jet to slide off a runway today. The Ryanair plane skidded on to the grass moments after landing at Prestwick Airport, just after 9am. No-one was injured.

There have been a series of minor shunts on icy roads across the region.

A woman had to be cut free from her Rover 75 after crashing into the back of a parked van in Toll End Road, Tipton at around 12.30am this morning.

Another driver crashed into a tree before hurtling through a fence into a field outside Aston Wood Golf Club in Blake Street, Little Aston, South Staffordshire at about 2.55pm yesterday.

People are also being warned to be careful on icy paths, while there are concerns emergency grit bins are being raided by people keen to clear their paths.

Jo Stagg, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: “In an ideal world all pavements and roads would be gritted, but this isn’t possible for local authorities. We advise people going to parties to wear sensible shoes.”