GET out your winter woollies and brrrr-ace yourself as Hampshire prepares for a winter blast.

Snow showers and freezing weather could hit the county this week as Scandinavian winds blast Britain with cold air.

In some parts of the south east, temperatures will not rise above 3C in the day and will plummet to a chilly -2C during the night from Wednesday while sheets of snow could cover the county by the end of the week.

Forecasters point to a cold and snowy start to December with widespread overnight frost and the risk of icy surfaces and more snow.

It could lead to a repeat of last year’s record-breaking winter, which saw the most severe weather in 30 years. Met Office experts say by Thursday there is a risk of heavy snow and strong winds and from Friday there will be cold wintry spells with overnight frost.

A fleet of new vehicles is on standby to deal with snow on motorways and major roads in Hampshire with the Highways Agency saying lessons had been learned from the last two winters.