Parts of the West were transformed into a winter wonderland yesterday when several inches of snow fell.

Within just days of the clocks going back and the arrival of early dark and wintry nights, snowflakes started to fall in what experts said was the earliest snow for more than a decade.

Youngsters were seen enjoying snow fights and herds of sheep were camouflaged by their surroundings.

Despite the freezing conditions, scores of walkers braved the cold and took leisurely strolls in the Welsh hills and along the Herefordshire border near Hay on Wye.

The scenes mirrored those in the Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland, while the remainder of the West was untouched by snow.

The Met Office put the sudden change in the weather down to arctic winds, which bring with them frost, sleet and snow.

Temperatures are also predicted to drop to as little as 4°C.

A spokesman for the Met Office said the rest of the week would remain cold with overnight frosts and further showers, which would be wintry over high ground. Malcolm Weatherall, of the Met Office, dubbed the snow the "first taste of winter".

On the downside, motorists faced hazardous conditions and council gritters were out in force to ensure drivers had as much grip on the icy roads as possible.