Temperatures could drop to below freezing as a cold spell described as a mini Beast from the East is set to hit parts of Kent.

Arctic winds being blown in from Scandinavia are being forecast to turn into sleet and snow across the South East overnight tomorrow and into Wednesday morning, causing temperatures to plunge.

The west part of the county, including Swanley, Tonbridge, Snodland, Kings Hill and parts of the Weald are expected to bear the brunt of the cold spell, which could last until the weekend.

Gritting Kent has declared an amber alert for Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning temperatures are expected to drop between 1C and freezing.

Meanwhile, with last year's Beast from the East still in many people's memories, the odds of this winter being the coldest on record have already been slashed to evens.

Last winter Kent bore the brunt of the Beast from the East, which dumped up to 15 inches of snow on the county, causing widespread travel disruption and forcing hundreds of schools to close.