Temperatures will return to normal next week after parts of the UK saw snow during the first cold snap of the year.

Snow was seen in higher parts of Scotland and north-east England on the last day of British summertime in what one meteorologist called “some of the coldest October days in a decade”.

Gritters were sent out in County Durham and Cumbria as the Met Office issued yellow warnings for northern Scotland and Northern Ireland.

But after the freeze, while temperatures will stay cool, they will begin to climb as we head into next week.

Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson told the Press Association things will remain chilly overnight into Sunday, but “it’s not going to be excessively cold” reaching “about minus three or four in rural Scotland and Northern Ireland”.

He explained: “It’s going to be a better day for most tomorrow with less snow around.

“There will be a little bit of snow in the northern hills, but milder than today.

“It will still be cold, but with highs of ten or 11 in the south.

“It will be a chilly week, but temperatures will recover closer to what they should be for the time of year.”

Trick or treaters have been warned to wrap up warm as it looks like there might be a bit of a bite in the air on Halloween night.

Met Office meteorologist John West said: “At the moment, we have got some some quite cold crisp weather with plenty of sunshine about. As we get to mid-week, it is going to to be increasingly unsettled.

“It will be likely less cold by Wednesday but by no means warm. If anybody is going to be out and about on Wednesday it might be a good idea to have a coat handy and maybe also a waterproof.”

Temperatures are set to relent next week after parts of the UK saw snow during this weekend’s autumn cold snap. 

The Met Office expects showers will continue to hit North Sea coastal areas on Monday. Once any fog patches clear, it should be largely dry elsewhere with plenty of sunshine but still cold.

It should turn wet and windy across many eastern areas on Tuesday, with snow possible across Scottish hills.

Mr West said that by Thursday morning temperatures are expected to be around freezing for Scotland, between 4-5C in London and there may be a touch of frost in the north west with temperatures of around 2-3C.