THE region was last night bracing itself for a week of heavy snow and plummeting temperatures, as forecasters warned that the weekend's icy conditions were only a sign of things to come.

Heavy snow is expected to fall across the North-East and North Yorkshire throughout the week - with the worst of the weather beginning either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Weather experts have predicted that the snow and blizzards will affect many parts of the UK, but have said the North-East could be one of the worst-affected areas.

Conditions are expected to be particularly bad near the coast and on the moors.

This weekend, several places across the region saw a covering of snow, and people braved icy temperatures and winds to venture outside.

But forecasters warned that the cold snap was a sign of things to come and that the winter weather would last all week.

A spokesman for PA Weathercentre last night told The Northern Echo it was likely that the North-East and North Yorkshire would be badly affected.

"There will be a cold air from the north and it will be feeling very cold and windy, and most of the region will see plenty of sleet and snow showers," he said.

"The worst of the conditions, and the most frequent of those snow showers, will probably affect the coast, and particularly over the moors.

"Temperatures will be very low.

"During the daytime temperatures will probably be between three and five degrees, and on high ground temperatures will struggle to get above zero.

"Almost certainly we will see a covering of snow over the course of the week."

The Met Office warned that cold air coupled with strong winds could bring localised snow falls of more than 20cm, causing blizzards over high ground and making some roads impassable.

The agency said the cold, wintry spell was expected to continue for the following few days.