DRIVERS are being warned to watch out for ice on the roads over the days ahead as temperatures plummet.

Unseasonably mild weather will be replaced by wintry weather across York, North and East Yorkshire during the early part of the week, according to forecasters.

There could be snow on the North York Moors and higher ground, and wintry showers of sleet and snow in towns and cities as overnight temperatures drop below zero for the first time in weeks.

Paul Knightley, weather forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, said: "It's going to be turning a lot colder across the country in general and York could suffer from the odd wintry shower during Tuesday or Wednesday, though on the whole it should be bright and crisp, frosty weather.

"We are anticipating icy patches on the roads especially in areas where there is still some standing water from all the recent rain."

Day time temperatures are expected to drop to 2 or 3C with night time temperatures as low as -4C for today, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last night the Environment Agency still had flood warnings in place for the River Ouse along the riverside footpaths in York, at Naburn Lock and the River Ure at Bishop Monkton to Roecliffe Caravan Park and at Aldwark Bridge.