SNOW is due to hit East Lancashire again this week, forecasters have predicted. 

After a mild weekend, temperatures are set to plummet moving into Monday, with wintery showers and snow expected on Tuesday.

A forecaster for the Met Office said: "There will be an icy start on Tuesday, with overnight wet and windy weather having cleared east.

"It will be a day of frequent wintry showers, with snow accumulating on hills. Brighter, but cold thereafter."

Over the following five days, the North West will stay predominantly cold and icy. There may be a number of blustery showers before conditions settle and become drier and brighter. 

Blackburn with Darwen Council warned that gritters will be hitting the roads this evening (Sunday), as temperatures will drop to below freezing throughout the night.

A spokesman said: "Clear periods this evening will allow temperatures to dip below zero for a time to give the risk of icy patches, but a band of cloud with the odd spot of light rain or drizzle will move through during the middle of the night to enable a temporary recovery.

"Later in the night, the risk of clear periods will increase again, with a further dip in RSTs locally to give a further risk of ice."