DORSET continues to shiver today as temperatures plunge - with two accidents reported this morning due to icy roads.

The county woke up to a blanket of frost, and drivers are being warned to take care on the roads.

Nottington Lane between the coast road and Church Lane at Buckland Ripers was blocked due to an accident and ice. Police said it was a damage-only incident and the owner was arranging recovery.

Firefighters helped get a person out of a car after it slid on ice and crashed in Highgate Lane at Lewell near West Stafford. Police said the ambulance service was called as a precuation but there were no serious injuries.  

A yellow warning for ice for Dorset was still in place earlier, with temperatures nudging over 0 degrees C after 9am and towards 5 degrees C in the afternoon, and it is set to be a bright and clear day.

County council gritters have been out but motorists have been warned for the potential of difficult travel conditions.

The Met Office has issued a new severe weather warning for snow for today, but not for Dorset.

The forecaster says there will be snow today, but in a "narrow 100 mile corridor" down the length of the country which is hard to predict.

The warning says:"Outbreaks of sleet and snow will spread from the northwest ... before reaching the Midlands and southern England during the evening and night. 1-3 cm snowfall is likely at low levels "Ice may prove an additional hazard in places. Please be aware of the potential for some travel disruption and difficult driving conditions."

The alert is valid until 6am on Sunday.

Gritters were out across Dorset at 4am this morning but there is ice on minor roads not covered by the gritters, with Travel Dorset warning of several accidents earlier on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas.

Additional routes will be gritted from 9am.

Motorists are advised to exercise “extreme caution” when behind the wheel, even if roads appear gritted.

Dr Angie Bone, head of extreme events at Public Health England, said a cold weather alert has been issued for England.

“It’s really important people take extra care when out and about,” Dr Bone said.

“Accidents can happen to anyone.”

The Met Office had said snow was a possibility on Friday but in the end none materialised.

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