THE region is being warned to batten down the hatches with the first serious snows of winter expected before the weekend.

Gale force winds, falling temperatures and up to four inches of snow are predicted during a three-day cold snap starting on Thursday.

Strong to gale force northerly winds will cause temperatures to drop sharply, bringing snow in the east of England and northern Scotland. Forecasters predict daytime temperatures will struggle to remain above freezing on Friday.

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Wild, head of the heavy snowfall and blizzards division at the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, said there was a "significant threat of disruption" when the snow hits.

Dr Wild said that snowfall of up to 10cms was possible with the North-East and Scotland at greatest risk both on high ground and by the coast and wind speeds were likely to reach up to 50mph.

It is too early to be certain where and when the winter weather will strike, but the region is bracing itself for the worst.

Durham County Council is mobilising its fleet of 65 gritters and four snow blowers.

The authority is also planning to salt more than 40 per cent of the county's 3,600kms of road network.

A council spokesman said: "We shall continue to do our best to keep the roads safe and passable, but every driver needs to remember that they too have a winter roads responsibility and should adapt their driving to suit the prevailing conditions."

In North Yorkshire, 100 gritters backed up by about 150 farming contractors will be keeping open roads to some of the county's more remote communities.

Mike Roberts, the county council's head of highways operations, said: "We have been treating the roads for well over a week now because of the frosty conditions, but our operations will intensify as the snow comes.

"We prepare for the worst and take it from there."