ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Snow and ice warnings have been issued for the UK as temperatures look set to plunge below freezing.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice in parts of the UK over Friday night and Public Health England has told people to take precautions as temperatures look set to drop.

Snow is predicted to fall overnight, mainly on higher ground, with up to 5cm of snow possible in some areas over 300m.

The weather warning, which is in place from 5pm on Friday to 10am on Saturday, has been issued for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and Wales as well as the north of England, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

UK Snow: March 2017 - In pictures 12 show all UK Snow: March 2017 - In pictures 1/12 Children are pulled to school through snow on a sledge in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 2/12 A car drives past daffodils in heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 3/12 A lone person climbs up towards Pen-y-Fan mountain on the Brecon Beacons where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 4/12 People walk through heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 5/12 A lorry drives through the snow on the A69 near Hexham in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 6/12 Dog walkers in heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 7/12 People climb the path to Pen-y-Fan mountain on the Brecon Beacons where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 8/12 Sheep graze on lower hills behind the Brecon mountains in Wales where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 9/12 Children head to school through snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 10/12 Cars make their way through heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 11/12 Lambs in the snow near Hexham in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 12/12 A man clears the snow at Langley Castle in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 1/12 Children are pulled to school through snow on a sledge in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 2/12 A car drives past daffodils in heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 3/12 A lone person climbs up towards Pen-y-Fan mountain on the Brecon Beacons where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 4/12 People walk through heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 5/12 A lorry drives through the snow on the A69 near Hexham in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 6/12 Dog walkers in heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 7/12 People climb the path to Pen-y-Fan mountain on the Brecon Beacons where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 8/12 Sheep graze on lower hills behind the Brecon mountains in Wales where snow has been falling Ben Birchall/PA 9/12 Children head to school through snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 10/12 Cars make their way through heavy snow in Allendale, Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 11/12 Lambs in the snow near Hexham in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA 12/12 A man clears the snow at Langley Castle in Northumberland Owen Humphreys/PA

The Met Office has forecast the mercury to plunge to as low as -4C in parts of the north of England and Scotland, while it will be as low as -1C in the south-east.

Dry and bright weather is forecast for London and the south-east over the weekend with very chilly temperatures expected as there will be little cloud.

Paul Gundersen, chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Colder air has now reached most parts of England, with temperatures expected to fall further by Saturday, when the cold will be accentuated by strengthening winds."

A Met forecaster said: "A band of rain, sleet and snow showers will move from the North West to South East across the yellow area through Friday, clearing during the early hours of Saturday, followed by further wintry showers.

"Icy patches are likely to form on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall."

Public Health England reminded people to be prepared ahead of the cold weather.

Dr Thomas Waite, of their Extreme Events team, said: "We're well used to winter in this country so most people know what to do to protect their health before and during cold spells.

"But there are people who may not take precautions and who are at a very real risk.

"We know that every winter thousands of people fall ill and many die because of exposure to cold both in the home and while outdoors.

"Those most at risk include older people, very young children and those with conditions like heart and lung disease.

"That's why every cold season we urge people to look out for family, friends and neighbours who may be at risk.

"Ask yourself if you could check on a neighbour to see if there's anything they need?"

Figures earlier this week showed there were more than 34,000 "excess deaths" across England and Wales over the last winter period, the second highest level in eight years.

The Office for National Statistics said the rise was likely to be due to a "predominant strain of flu prevalent during the 2016 to 2017 winter"