THE Met Office has activated nine weather warnings, including two amber warnings, as Storm Bert batters the nation. Virtually every area of the country is covered by alerts for snow, rain or ice.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: “Storm Bert marks a shift to much milder air and wintry hazards will gradually diminish through the weekend, but heavy snowfall is expected across parts of northern England and Scotland for a time on Saturday, especially over higher ground, and warnings are in place.

The Met Office has issued two rare amber snow alerts as part of nine weather warnings stretching from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. Snow is expected to bring particular difficulty in North East England,