Forecasters are predicting up to 10cm of snow tonight in south-east England as rain from the Atlantic will come up against the cold air and turn to snow as it moves further east.

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The high ground in the south east corner of Kent is often hit harder by the severe weather and gritters will be trying to keep the main roads clear.

In last winter's heavy snowfall, the A260 Folkestone to Canterbury road was blocked and the A20 between Folkestone and Dover was badly affected as snow made driving hazardous for cross channel traffic.

BBC Weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist has warned of 'the most significant falls so far this winter'.

"There is potential for transport disruption," she said.

Drivers are advised to take shovels, warm clothes and fully charged phones and people travelling by rail should check the public transport websites before setting off.

In Kent the Football League match at Gillingham has been postponed and local teams, Folkestone Invicta and Canterbury City's home matches have been called off due to frozen pitches.

People travelling to France can contact their ferry operators for information on the following numbers:-

FREIGHT DFDS Seaways 01304 218 400
FREIGHT P&O Ferries 01304 86 33 40

TOURIST DFDS Seaways 0871 574 7235
TOURIST P&O Ferries 08716 64 64 64

The cold conditions are likely to continue into the early part of next week.

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2012