Snow and ice warnings for Manchester and Cheshire

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice for areas of Cheshire and Greater Manchester on Friday.

The warning comes amid predictions that an area of sleet and snow is expected to move south-eastwards across England and Wales.

Forecasters said any snowfall would likely be 1-2cm (0.4-0.8in), with up to 5cm (2in) possible on higher ground.

The Met Office said travel disruption was expected and the precipitation could lead to road and pavement surfaces becoming icy.

The warning comes into force at 00:00 GMT and is currently in force until 12:00 on Friday.

In north-west England, the warning covers a large swathe of Cheshire including Chester, Warrington and Halton, as well as areas of Greater Manchester.

The Met Office urged anyone who needed to travel to check road conditions in advance and take extra care when walking on potentially slippery surfaces.

A spokesperson said: "This warning highlights the risk of disruptive snow showers and icy surfaces, particularly in northern and eastern areas, with impacts on travel and potential hazards for the public.

"We expect this cold spell to persist into the weekend and on into next week, with further warnings possible as temperatures remain well below average and snow showers continue in places."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued amber cold health alerts in the North East and North West.

These warnings will be in place until 10:00 on January 6.

The UKHSA said it meant the weather was "likely" to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a "rise in deaths" among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: "Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.

"Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

"It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable."

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.