AROUND five centimetres of snow is due to fall in Cumbria today.

Snow showers have been predicated, by The Met Office, to hit Cumbria this afternoon (February 4). The North West has also been put on an amber alert to be prepared for severe weather.

Paul Gundersen, Deputy Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: "As this front moves in from the west it will come up against cold air and we're likely to see a mixture of rain, sleet and snow across the UK.

"It's a finely balanced situation, so there is some uncertainty about which areas will see the most significant snowfall, but at the moment the risk is highest in central and eastern areas where we could see up to 5-10cm of snow.

"With this risk of snow and ice over the next few days it is important people stay up to date with our weather forecasts and warnings for the latest information."

Cumbria Police have warned motorists to only travel if the journey is absolutely necessary due to snow and ice on the roads.