By GEMMA BROWN

Published at 07:42, Wednesday, 30 January 2013

ALTHOUGH forecasters are predicting the worst of the snow is over, it seems there is still more white stuff to come this weekend.

Unable to get to school at Wark, Alex Tilley (6) and his sisters, Elise (1) and Abbey (8), built a giant snowman in their garden at Birtley and then posed for a photograph taken by their dad, Andrew.

Freezing temperatures are expected to pave the way for icy conditions today with a Met Office weather warning in place urging motorists to take care on untreated road surfaces.

Lows of -8C are expected before more snow showers arrive as the day progresses.

The snow is expected to turn to heavy downpours of sleet and rain across much of the country by Sunday.

And just as many drivers and householders across the district have dug themselves out of the snow, experts are warning that a combination of rain and snow melt could lead to localised surface water and river flooding.

The Environment Agency has said that river levels, swollen by the thaw, will begin to rise as the new threat takes hold.

At present, four flood warnings and 17 less severe flood alerts have been put in place for the South-East and South-West of the country, but the areas worst affected by snow are all expected to experience flooding as the rain continues throughout next week.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk