THE unseasonably warm air that has cloaked the UK from the worst of the winter weather will vanish into the November air this week as the temperatures plummet.

The recent highs which have seen the mercury loiter around the early- and mid-teens will give way to much cooler weather, including lows of 3C by the middle of the week.

Forecasters have not ruled out the chance of sleet, ice and some light snowfall in parts of the country.

In Bolton today and tomorrow, temperatures are likely to drop to between 3C and 5C.

Steven Keates, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "It's going to be colder than what we've been used to, obviously, considering it's been balmy and mild as a whole.

"There's going to be a day by day cooling off, with each day getting cooler than the previous.

"There will be some cloud and showers, but the biting wind will make it feel even colder than it is, particularly in the east.

"West is best in terms of the weather this week. There could be some snowfall in the more mountainous areas, the peaks, but we shouldn't expect too much disruption."