WEATHER forecasters predicted last night that wintry conditions would improve after heavy snow fell over parts of Britain.

The east of England was expected to be hit by more snow overnight, with Newcastle one of the worst-affected areas. But forecasters said most of the snow would turn to sleet and rain over the next 24 hours.

Over the weekend, the weather brought chaos to parts of Britain, with Scotland badly affected.

About 3,000 clubbers were forced to take shelter yesterday morning after blizzard conditions left them trapped in Glasgow city centre.

The heavy snowfall meant there were no taxis available to take revellers home when they left clubs early yesterday morning.

Shawbury, in Shropshire, was one of the worst-affected areas south of the border yesterday, with 8cm of snow recorded.

PA WeatherCentre forecaster Paul Mott said last night: "Across England, it is already easing from the west and is turning to sleet and rain.

"The conditions for much of the UK should be improving over the next 24 hours."

The M74, the main link between Scotland and England on the west of the country, was closed to northbound traffic at Beattock because of the severe weather.

There was also a string of minor accidents throughout the country and south of the border, in Cumbria.

Glasgow and Edinburgh airports closed for a time yesterday, causing incoming flights to be diverted.

* Freezing weather conditions are raising fears that this year's frog spawn has been frozen in ponds nationwide.

Conservation charity the Woodland Trust said tadpoles that survived or missed the freeze may well face the droughts predicted for later this year, which could further devastate the population.

The warning comes as already diminished numbers of frog spawn sightings have been reported, compared with last year's Springwatch Survey, which is run by the BBC in association with the Woodland Trust and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.