A LEVEL three cold weather alert has been issued across the south of England by the Met Office.

Sussex, London and Essex are among the areas covered by the weather service's warning, which advises people to take "severe weather action".

The Met Office spokesman website states: "Look out for friends and family who may be vulnerable to the cold, and ensure they have access to warm food and drinks and are managing to heat their homes adequately.

Your Local Guardian: Roads in Sussex during the snow storm of 2010Roads in Sussex during the snow storm of 2010

"Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18°C, particularly if you are not mobile, have a long-term illness or are aged 65 or over.

"Avoid exposing yourself to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls."

Your Local Guardian: The cold weather alert Credit: Met OfficeThe cold weather alert Credit: Met Office

The weather alert warns there is a 90 per cent probability of "severe cold weather and icy conditions" in the affected areas until 9am on Monday.

A Met Office forecast for the UK said there would be some snow over the weekend, but it would mostly be confined to areas of higher ground.

Though some "accumulations are likely to (affect) some low levels in places", this is expected to impact areas further north.

The forecast read: "(Conditions will) stay cold with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow moving slowly southwards across England during Friday.

"Snow (will be) mostly confined to higher ground, but accumulations are likely to (affect) some low levels in places.

"Icy conditions are expected, especially by night, with a widespread frost.

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"(Conditions will) become drier across southern England into the weekend, but it will remain rather cold with widespread frost and ice patches, but also some freezing fog patches forming, which may persist during the daytime in places.

"Turning less cold across northern England from Sunday and into Monday, as milder Atlantic air moves in from the northwest to bring cloudier conditions with outbreaks of rain and stronger winds, but some transient hill snow in the north."