Telford had some snow last week, but it didn't last long - unlike the latest predictions

Shropshire and Mid Wales could wake up to as much as four inches of snow tomorrow, forecasters today predicted.

A fresh blast of snow is expected, with forecasters warning of up to a foot on higher ground in parts of Wales, with lighter but significant falls in areas of central England.

Icy conditions were causing problems for drivers in the county today with police closing a stretch of the M54 and A5 between Telford and Shrewsbury this morning.

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The road was closed in both directions between Junction 7 and the Preston Island at about 10am after ice on the road resulted in three smashes. No-one was injured.

Tracey Gooding, Central Motorway Police Group civilian controller, said: “It’s closed until the gritters can go along it. We are waiting for an estimated time of arrival.”

Meanwhile, John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, today said the county could get anything from two to four inches of snow tomorrow.

He said: “It does look like it’s going to start snowing in Shropshire in the early hours. Driving through the hills will be very difficult over the next few days. I would expect two to four inches. It might be more over the hills. It will probably stay over the hills but on lower ground in Shrewsbury and most of Telford it may not stay and just turn into sleet or rain for a time.

“There are going to be very cold east to north-east winds for most of this week. Tonight it will go to about -1C (30F) and we had temperatures last night of -4C (25F).”

Forecasters have already warned that temperatures are expected to plunge to -3C (26F) in most of England and Wales on New Year’s Eve.

It comes as pedestrians at a Shropshire beauty spot faced treacherous conditions after black ice covered pavements in Ironbridge over the weekend, according to a local resident.

The cold snap also turned some of Oswestry’s streets into glass on Boxing Day with about half a dozen minor accidents throughout the morning.