Snow began falling late yesterday afternoon but failed to stick on the ground at lower levels in the county.

Leek, near the Peak District in Staffordshire, has seen the worst of the snowfall with four inches falling, according to the Met Office.

In Sheffield motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles after becoming stuck in snow. Traffic was backed up on the Prince of Wales Road in the early hours of the morning with some motorists reporting four-hour tailbacks.

Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford International Airport in Yorkshire were forced to close their runways while snow was cleared.

Now weather experts are warning of widespread frost as temperatures struggle to get above freezing this weekend.

Met Office adviser Kevin Wadsworth said: “Saturday will be cold with scattered showers of sleet or snow possible anywhere.

“Further accumulations are possible, generally just a light covering in places and more especially on the higher ground.

“Thereafter, and for the next few days, it’s a case of any remaining sleet or snow showers gradually dying out to leave dry and cold conditions, with light winds, overnight frosts and daytime temperatures struggling to get much above freezing.”

The cold weather alert issued by the Met Office warns conditions could “increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.

Christmas night was the coldest of the year so far, with -8.5C recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

Temperatures could also drop as low as -10C in some places at the start of next week.