SNOW has been forecast for the North West this weekend as winter weather looks set to hit the region.

The Met Office has said wintry showers are likely on higher ground including in the Lakes and Pennines on Saturday and Sunday.

Forecasters have said temperatures could drop to as low as minus two degrees celsius.

Alex Burkill, a meterologist at the Met Office, said: "It will be pretty dry but there will be some rain coming through.

"Temperatures will be below average and it will be wintry over higher ground in the Lakes, Pennies and Peak Disrict.

"Daytime temperatures will be around three or four degrees celsius, maybe reaching six or seven degrees celsius in some areas.

"At night temperatures could drop to minus one or minus two degrees celsius.

"It will be frosty in the morning and cold during the day."

It comes as forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for rain for the entire day on Thursday, with hill snow also set to cause problems in the region.

The warning is in place for Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside and Warrington.