DRIVERS have been warned to avoid unnecessary travel in Worcestershire because of a drop in temperatures.

Worcestershire County Council's Highways and Travel Team said road temperatures are expected to fall below zero tonight (Wednesday).

Gritters will be heading out from 5pm to primary and secondary routes with further inspections planned throughout the night.

Further gritting will be carried out by Worcestershire County Council, if necessary, with the council warning drivers to take care and avoid unnecessary travel.

It comes as the Met Office extended its weather warning for snow and ice in Worcestershire.

Later this afternoon, more persistent sleet and snow is set to return from the south.

A band of snow will move north-eastwards this evening which the council believes will lower the road temperatures overnight.

READ MORE: Snow is falling across Worcestershire

Heading into Thursday morning, another round of sleet and snow will arrive from the south-west, giving further accumulations before turning to sleet and rain as the morning progresses.

Any light snow this afternoon will struggle to settle on road surfaces, but between two to five centimetres of snow is likely tonight across the county, with five to eight centimetres on 'high routes'.

Tomorrow morning (Thursday), another round of sleet and snow will arrive from the south-west, giving further accumulations before turning to sleet and rain as the morning progresses.

The minimum road temperature is expected to reach -1C.