Arctic wind sucked in by the remnants of Storm Caroline have produced thick snow across huge swathes of the UK today (Friday December 8) and forecasters expect even more snowy showers over the weekend. 

The Met Office has issued yellow snow and ice warnings for Northern Ireland, Scotland and large parts of western England today, with heavy snowfall due to cover Britain for the next few days.

A more severe amber warning has been issued for chunks of England and Wales on Sunday as the icy conditions drifts southwards. 

Beautiful photos from around the UK today show families out enjoying the wintery weather.

Children were seen laughing as they sledged down white hills in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.

Another image showed horses in Cloughoge, Newry, grazing in a snowy field, as the sun peeked through the clouds, while Nathan Lee and Josh Clewley had the unenviable task of harvesting brussels sprouts in time for Christmas. 

Elsewhere, gritters worked tirelessly in northern Scotland to fight of the ice and children in Belfast had fun making snowmen. 

Forecasters have warned the extreme icy conditions could be a serious danger to Britons on Friday through Saturday, with some areas likely to receive up to 20cm of snow.

The Met Office said: “Icy surfaces are likely to be an additional hazard, especially overnight.

“The heaviest and most frequent snow showers will progressively become confined to northeast Scotland during Saturday. 

“Impacts include possible travel delays on roads stranding some vehicles and passengers with possible delays and cancellations to rail and air travel. Some rural communities could be cut off and power supplies interrupted. 

“Probably some icy stretches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths and also a chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy and snowy surfaces.”

As the snow is pushed southward overnight on Saturday and Sunday, heavy snow is forecast to wreak havoc across the whole of England, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. 

After upgrading the snow alert from yellow to amber, the Met Office said: “A spell of heavy snow is likely over parts of Wales, the Midlands and parts of Northern England on Sunday. 

“Road, rail and air travel delays are likely, as well as stranding of vehicles and public transport cancellations. 

“There is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off.”