Snow and ice severe weather warning issued for the West Midlands

The agency's yellow 'be aware' warning is valid from 6pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

As a result motorists across the region are likely to suffer a repeat of today's morning rush hour disruption, with sleet, snow, ice and rain combining to make for hazardous driving conditions.

Snowy showers are highly likely in the extreme west of the Midlands, while any snow closer to Birmingham is likely to be sporadic.

Nonetheless, five to 10 centimetres of snow is possible in higher areas, while lower ground may see between one and three centimetres.

The showers will become increasingly frequent as temperatures plummet throughout the night, but they may also fall as sleet or rain, increasing the chance of ice on untreated surfaces.

Road conditions are likely to be similar to those in place on Thursday morning, when a number of accidents caused delays throughout the region.

Roads will be wet and slushy when ice and snow melt as temperatures increase again in the morning.

The yellow 'be aware' alert is one level above the Met Office's 'no severe weather', and people affected are advised to plan ahead and be prepared for travel delays and disruption.

Although major roads will be gritted, ice is still likely to be in place and motorists, cyclists and walkers are encouraged to take extra care.

Details on gritting routes can be found on individual council websites, while the latest weather updates are available on the Met Office site.

The cold snap is in sharp contrast to last month, which was both the wettest and warmest December on record, when temperatures averaged 7.9C (46.2F).

Andrew Proctor, director of advice and support at Asthma UK, said: "With very cold weather expected across much of the UK this week, particularly on Thursday, people with asthma need to take extra care.

"Cold air can have a severe impact on people with asthma. As many as three-quarters of people with asthma tell us it can trigger symptoms, making sensitive airways tighten up quickly and putting people at risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

"If you find cold weather makes your asthma worse, make sure you wrap up warm, carry your reliever inhaler, and know what to do if your symptoms get worse."