Spring gets off to an unsettled start in the UK with snow and heavy rain causing road chaos.

The UK’s Met Office is warning people across some parts of northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland to be prepared as the UK braces itself for a spell of cold weather.

The Easter weekend looks set to be a chilly one as spring begins with a spell of unsettled weather – frustrating DIY retailers who ready themselves for what is typically the one of the busiest weekends for garden and household purchases.

As well as heavy rain, forecasters say that heavy snow looks set to cause disruption across high ground, causing travel chaos for motorists. The Met Office also warns that strong winds with gales on some coasts will make conditions feel even colder.

Chief Forecaster, Chris Tubbs, said: “March weather is typically mixed and snow is not unusual at this time of the year. All parts will see rain for a time and there is the risk of local flooding in places.”

The snow and heavy rain has already caused powercuts to more than 48,000 homes across Northern Ireland according to Northern Ireland Electricity, which said emergency workers are working tirelessly to restore supply.

Sara McClintock from Northern Ireland Electricity said, “Conditions in the field are extremely bad. The wind and snow caused havoc last night bringing down electricity poles and lines and we’re expecting more bad weather this morning. We face a mammoth task in trying to fix over 600 individual faults with these prevailing conditions.”

News reports are also telling miserable accounts of the UK’s roads. Drivers have been struggling to deal with the surprise downturn in the weather, with more than 300 people having to be rescued near Londonderry, Northern Ireland after becoming stuck in the snow. In South Lanarkshire, Scotland, several school children are believed to be injured following a coach crash shortly before 0600 BST today (31 March).

The Environment Agency currently has 17 flood warnings in place, with a further 51 areas on flood watch and it is urging people to prepare for the worst.

The Met Office is urging people to keep up-to-date with the latest weather forecasts by visiting www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html

Or you can access the latest weather reports on your mobile at www.metoffice.gov.uk/mobile