As temperatures plummet across the Bradford district due to the so-called 'polar vortex' effect bringing Arctic weather down from the North Pole, Met Office forecasters have warned snow is on its way next week.

Next week is "likely to be the coldest spell of weather for several years", they say.

Temperatures will struggle to get much above freezing all weekend, but it's on Tuesday that forecasters predict the worst of the weather will hit.

A yellow warning for snow is in place across the district from 3am on Tuesday until five minutes to midnight on Wednesday.

After that conditions are predicted to worsen still further, with a high chance of snow in Bradford throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said: "Many places will be dry, but snow showers are expected to develop from Monday. There is the potential for some disruptive snowfall on Monday evening and through Tuesday. The regions most at risk of disruptive snow are parts of southeast England and East Anglia, although parts of northern England and eastern Scotland are also at risk. Transport disruption is likely in areas with significant snowfall.

“With such low temperatures, snowfall is likely to be powdery, bringing the risk of drifting in the strong easterly winds. However, the majority of the air is so dry that hoar frost and ice will be less likely to form.”

The cold snap could last well into March, the agency warns.

Dr Thomas Waite, of Public Health England’s Extreme Events team, said: “With the days feeling a little longer and lighter it can be easy to forget that cold weather can still kill.

“Over 65s, those with conditions like heart and lung diseases and young children, are all at particular risk in cold weather as their bodies struggle to cope when temperatures fall. So before it gets cold check on friends, family and neighbours, who may be at risk and make sure they’re heating homes to at least 18C, see if they need any particular help or just someone to talk to and keep an eye on the Met Office’s forecasts and warnings. Remember keeping warm will help keep you well.”