The Fylde Coast is set to be battered with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures over the next few days, according to meteorologists who have warned that Britain should brace itself for wintry conditions that will sweep across the country this coming weekend.

Snowfall could arrive as early as Saturday, with more wet and windy weather to come before it turns much colder from Sunday – with an increasing risk of ice and snow. And some meteorologists predict that several inches of snow will end up settling on the ground, which could rival the harshest winter days the country has seen this century.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, warned: ‘There is the potential for what could be a widespread snow event across large parts of the country. The snow is likely to hit northern regions first, but we now expect southern areas to see some snow within this period. Further, the risk is increasing of snowfall which could produce similar images to the historic snow events of 2009 and 2010.’