EAST Lancashire was battered by hailstones and struck by thunderstorms yesterday morning, as a bout of freak weather hit the county.

The early morning deluge of hailstones and was coupled by Thundersnow – the name given to the dramatic weather event that is a winter thunderstorm.

Lightening was also spotted yesterday.

Thundersnow is almost the same a summer thunder storm, but where snow falls instead of rain.

Experts say it happens when the atmosphere is unstable and the layer of air closest to the ground is cold enough to create snow, but still warmer than the air above it.

The storms, which first hit Blackburn at around 8.30am, moved eastwards through to Pendle, slowing commuter traffic throughout the county’s road network.

And residents have been warned to brace themselves for yet more bad weather as a weekend of wind, snow and freezing temperatures approaches.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice lasting until midday today, and has told residents to prepare for severe weather throughout the weekend.

The Met Office warning said: “There is a 90 per cent probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions until noon on Monday in parts of England.

“This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.

“Increasingly cold air will spread from the North West across England on Thursday night and during Friday, with showers turning more wintry from the north.

“Average temperatures are expected to continue falling through the weekend, with a northerly airstream likely to be established by Sunday.

“Frost and ice are expected to become widespread through the period, with some severe overnight frosts likely in the north over any snow cover by Monday.”

As the weekend of inclement weather approaches, social and healthcare services had been put on high alert, the forecaster said, as the UK faces no let-up in the winter conditions which claimed one life and caused chaos on roads and rail yesterday.

Public Health England(PHE) has urged people to help vulnerable family and friends to keep warm.

Dr Angie Bone of PHE’s extreme events team, said: “Our advice is that when indoors, have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm and try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long-term illness or are 65 or over.”