THE Met Office has issued a yellow 'be aware' warning of ice for Wiltshire and Swindon.

Its warning is valid from 8pm today until 10am tomorrow.

Rain and some hill snow will clear from the west during this evening, says the Met Office, with cloud thinning to allow the temperature to fall below freezing overnight and at first on Thursday morning.

"Please be aware of the risk of ice on untreated surfaces," read the warning.

The chief forecaster says: "A frontal system will produce a good deal of rain through Wednesday afternoon and evening, with some snow over the hills, chiefly in Wales, the north Midlands and northern England, which may give a covering in places.

"Surfaces will remain wet into the night, such that as the temperature falls below freezing, ice is likely to form on untreated roads and pavements.

"Upland areas in the north and west of the 'warning' area are at risk during Wednesday evening with other areas at increasing risk later in the night and at first on Thursday morning."

Local authority areas affected are Wiltshire, Swindon, Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Devon, North Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset.

Further north a yellow warning of snow has been issued for the Midlands, central England to just north of London from 8pm today until 10am on Thursday.

Conditions are expected to improve throughout Thursday with milder yet potentially unsettled weather likely.