Yellow alerts cover the far north of Scotland, as well as stretching from Cumbria to southwestern Scotland.

Another warning snakes down the eastern coast of England - from Newcastle to Kent - with all three alerts expiring at 10am or 11am on Saturday.

Wintry showers will lead to some icy patches and snow cover, said the Met Office.

People are being warned about slips and falls on icy surfaces, while drivers may face treacherous conditions and public transport could be delayed.

The wintry weather made its presence felt on Thursday, with dozens of schools in Cornwall either partially or fully closed.

Several crashes were also reported on County Durham's roads because of snow.

Around 20 schools had to close there because of the dangerous driving conditions and difficulties for staff getting to work.

Overnight temperatures into Friday fell to -6C in southwest England, -8C in Wales, and -10C in Scotland - and many places struggled to get much above freezing in the daytime.

Similar freezing conditions are again expected across the country overnight into Saturday.

Check the latest weather forecast where you are

Sky News weather presenter Kirsty McCabe said: "At the moment, outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow are set to move in from the west on Saturday night.

"This awkward mix will push eastwards across parts of England and Wales.

"Snow is most likely over the Welsh hills but could fall to lower levels overnight as the temperatures drop well below freezing.

"As well as a risk of snow, there is the potential for icy stretches and freezing rain (which causes black ice on roads).

"Other wintry hazards this weekend include freezing fog, which is likely to linger and make it feel even colder."

However, Sunday could bring a small increase in temperature in many parts of southern England.

Health and transport risks ahead

The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold health alerts in five regions - the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber - until 5 December.

It says there could be a "significant" impact across the health and social care sector.

According to the Met Office, the UK is likely to remain in a northeasterly airflow for several days to come, meaning it will stay cold well into next week.

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National Highways is urging motorists to plan their journeys, keep an eye on the weather forecast, and take extra care on the roads.

Its national network manager Dale Hipkiss said: "Freezing conditions bring so many hazards such as snow and ice.

"Please take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow extra time when travelling.

"Keeping a kit of essential items like a torch and warm clothes in your vehicle can be vital."