Parts of Britain can expect up to 6in (15cm) of snow next week as winter arrives in force, forecasters have said.

North-east Scotland looks set to face heavy snow and overnight temperatures of minus 9C (15.8F), while eastern England faces snow and sleet.

Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It's going to turn increasingly cold next week and then, from Wednesday, showers are going to turn to sleet and snow, especially in northern Scotland and eastern parts of England."

Ms Plumb said Scotland would see heavy snow, while Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Anglia could expect "significant snow accumulations" but could not estimate the depth of snow on the ground.

Temperatures across the East of England could fall to minus 6C (21.2F) from the middle of next week, she said.

She added that the west of Wales could also see sleet and snow as a result of cold winds off the Atlantic.

London is expected to be spared the worst of the harsh weather.

Ms Plumb said: "It will be very cold in London and I couldn't rule out a few sleet or snow showers but we're not expecting any significant accumulations of snow there."