Heavy snow is forecast in parts of Lancashire on the first day of March.

The mild winter is to be interrupted with a cold snap over the weekend which will see sleet and snow in many parts of the region.

Thursday is generally looking dry and cloudy with skies gradually 'brightening up through the afternoon, perhaps with one or two showers', said the Met Office.

However, Friday through to Sunday is looking far more unsettled. 

The Met Office weather map is predicting snow in Barnoldswick, Colne, Burnley and the Ribble Valley. Parts of these areas will see heavy snow falling early in the morning on Friday.

The Met forecast says: “Rain pushing north on Friday with snow possible, mainly over the hills. Sunny spells and scattered showers this weekend, some wintry over hills. Breezy at times with overnight frosts likely.”

The first official day of spring is Tuesday, March 19 and clocks will got forward a week later heralding longer nights.

However, Meteorological seasons consist of splitting the seasons into four periods made up of three months each. According to the meteorological calendar, spring will always start on 1 March and ending on 31 May.