A COLD snap is coming to Herefordshire with temperatures set to fall as low as -8C this week, according to the Met Office.

But next week, Herefordshire could be hit with snow over five days, the BBC's forecast suggests.

The BBC forecast shows light snow is set to fall in Kington towards the end of the day on Tuesday (December 13).

That will be followed by sleet and snow from 1pm on Wednesday (January 14), more light snow on Thursday (December 15) after 7pm.

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Those light snow showers will continue into Friday (December 16), turning sleety at times, before it turns back to rain on Saturday (December 17).

Temperatures in the north Herefordshire town across the five-day period will hover between 0C and 4C.

In Hereford, the BBC says sleet could start falling on Wednesday evening, with snow forecasts for Thursday evening.

Friday and Saturday will then be sleet turning to rain.

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It comes as the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued a severe cold weather alert for England, as they warned the plummeting temperatures could increase health risks to vulnerable people and disrupt the delivery of services.

The level three, or amber, cold weather alert was issued on Monday morning and warns of severe conditions in England between 6pm on Wednesday and 9am on Monday, December 12.

The alert requires social and healthcare services to take action to protect high-risk groups.

Temperatures are expected to turn colder across much of the UK late on Wednesday and through Thursday as air from the Arctic spreads south across the country.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: “Temperatures will start to dip this week, with daytime temperatures struggling to get above freezing in many places from mid-week onwards.

“However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells in many areas, particularly away from the coast.

“Showers will turn more wintry as the week goes on with a risk of snow at times."

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He added: “We can expect to see some snow and wintry showers further south as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground. There will be widespread frosts with temperatures falling to as low as minus 10C overnight in isolated spots by the end of the week.”

Downing Street on Monday said it was confident that the UK has sufficient energy supplies to get through the cold period. A yellow weather warning for ice has also been issued for Hereford and western parts of the county for Wednesday.