Snow has started to fall in parts of the UK and there’s plenty more on its way, just in time for a freezing Easter, say forecasters.

The ‘heatwave’ of the past weeks has evaporated, with severe weather warnings following the extreme change in temperature.

The Met Office has already issued two severe weather alerts, and there is a warning of possible travel disruptions due to the icy conditions.

Up to eight inches snow are due in some parts of the country today (Monday).

Northern England will experience rain increasingly turning to snow tonight (Monday), with 5cm expected on high ground.

The Midlands and Home Counties are forecast light snow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

London will also see sleet or snow – although Met Office forecaster Helen Waite says it is unlikely to settle.
Forecasters predict that by tomorrow (Tuesday) there will also be widespread frost.

After days of beautiful spring weather across Britain, temperatures will drop to as low as -11C in Braemar, Cairngorms, where snow has already fallen. Just a week ago, this area experienced record March temperatures of 22C.

Across the rest of the UK, temperatures are already struggling to get into double figures, and these are set to drop further.

Julian Mayes, forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said “We’ve seen the temperature drop already, and it will continue to get colder for two to three days.”

Snow is forecast for the Easter holidays, and temperatures will plummet to 7C by Wednesday, dropping from a high of 23C this week.

Weather experts say the changeable weather is due to a shift in wind patterns and bitter Arctic winds from the North Pole will replace the warm continental air.

“We are looking at a major drop in temperatures, with a blast of cold air coming from the North. A change in the high pressure will mean instead of air coming from the South. It will start to come in from Scandinavia,” senior forecaster at British Weather Services Adrian Crocker told the Daily Express.

Dan Williams from the Met Office told The Metro: ‘This will feel like a shock for some people after the taste of summer in recent days.’

Williams said that there was nothing odd about the wintery weather arriving and that it is statistically more likely to snow at Easter in Britain than at Christmas.

“It’s actually a return to normal weather for the time of year after the recent warm spell,” he said.

This week saw most of the UK sweltering in temperatures above 20C. On Thursday the warm weather reached a high of 23C in Southampton, matching a previous March 28 record set in 1965.

Looking to escape this Easter? Check out our pick of the best bargain breaks for spring below…

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A high-rise hotel has as been bombed as part of an attack by suspected Muslim insurgents in Thailand.

The most deadly coordinated attacks in years in Thailand’s restive south has killed 14 people and injured 340, reports the Press Association.

A first batch of explosives planted inside a parked lorry ripped through an area of restaurants and shops in a busy area of Yala city, a main commercial hub of Thailand’s restive southern provinces, said district police chief Col Kritsada Kaewchandee.

About 20 minutes later, just as onlookers gathered at the blast site, a second car bomb exploded, causing the majority of casualties. Eleven people were killed and 110 were wounded by the blasts.

A blast also occurred at a high-rise hotel in the city of Hat Yai, in the nearby province of Songkhla. Officials had initially attributed that blast to a gas leak, saying it was unrelated to the attacks blamed on insurgents. But after inspecting the hotel’s underground parking lot, authorities found a severely damaged sedan and a hole created by the explosion’s impact.

The explosion at the 405-room Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel (pictured), where throngs of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists spend their weekends, killed three people and caused about 230 injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation, said police Lt Puwadon Wiriyawarangkun Regional police chief Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda said the Hat Yai incident “is likely related to what happened in Yala and might have been plotted by the same group of insurgents”.

Police said the blast that occurred at the underground level of the hotel ripped the building’s cooking gas pipeline, causing a fire that sent smoke spiralling into the upper floors and trapping many people in their rooms until rescuers came. One of the fatalities was identified as a Malaysian tourist.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces – Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala – since an Islamist insurgency flared in January 2004.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against all travel to the Preah Vihear (Khaoi Pra Viharn in Thai) temple area and the Ta Krabey/Ta Moan temple area located on the Thai-Cambodian border due to the presence of troops in the area and the risk of outbreaks of fighting.

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A passenger plane in Siberia has crashed just after take-off – killing 31 of the 43 people on board.

The ATR-72 turboprop aircraft run by the Russian airline UTair had just left Roschchino Airport bound for Surgut when it crashed and burst into flames in a snow-covered field about 22 miles from Tyumen, a city that lies 1,700 kilometres (1,000 miles) east of Moscow and is the capital of one of Russia’s biggest oil producing regions.

According to the BBC, the four flight crew members, two pilots and two flight attendants, all died.

The Russian emergencies ministry has published a list of those that perished; correspondents say they were all Russian, and that there were no children on board.

According to AFP, the Tyumen emergencies ministry says that 12 people are in a critical condition in hospital.

In a statement, UTair said the plane came down just after take-off “while conducting a forced landing 1.5km (about one mile)” outside Roschchino Airport.

An airport security officer said the plane only managed to climb to about 100 metres before it lost communication with air traffic controllers, adding: “The liner’s technical problems probably emerged during take-off and the crew tried to perform an emergency landing.”

Air safety is a growing problem in Russia, where 15 planes crashed just last year, killing 120 people.

In September last year, 44 people died in a plane crash caused by “pilot error”, including the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team.

And, back in 2010, the Polish president Lech Kaczynski and dozens of other senior Polish figures died when their plane crashed as it approached Smolensk airport in thick fog.

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Hundreds of passengers at Birmingham Airport have been allowed to enter the UK without proper passport checks after a computer power failure rendered electronic scanning impossible.

The immigration system failure saw around 200 travellers walk straight through security on Thursday after being delayed for three hours.

The incident occurred after around 500 passengers were allowed to the enter the UK without their passports being checked on Wednesday night in a bid to relieve pressure on arrivals, a move that saw senior Border Force officer David Dodds suspended.

According to the Daily Mail, it is believed that border officials used passenger lists from flights affected to retrospectively check the identities of those who walked straight through immigration.

An airport source told the paper: “People were able to walk in without immigration staff being able to identify who they were until it was too late.

“It’s all well and good checking the names against passenger manifests, but by the time that was done it was too late to do anything about anybody considered a potential threat.”

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A ‘dog-hater’ is littering beaches with rat poison sandwiches on a small stretch of UK coastline.

Police have confirmed that at least three dogs have been affected near Chicester, West Sussex, with the latest contaminated sandwiches being found on the beach at East Wittering.

Others have been found at Bosham and Lavant, and police are now concerned that an animal could be killed in the Easter holiday beach rush, according to the Daily Mail.

A spokesman for Chichester District Council told the paper: “Our dog wardens and foreshores team have been made aware of incidents of dogs eating rat poison sandwiches.

“They will be looking for any suspicious items while they are out on patrol and removing anything they find.”

One famous local resident and wildlife campaigner who might be concerned is Rolling Stones star Keith Richards, who has lived in the area for 46 years and owns a beach hut at West Wittering.

Don’t let thugs put you off our beautiful beaches. Discover some of the best below:

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A passenger on a Qantas flight discovered maggots crawling in her airline food after she had already eaten some of it.

The Australian passenger, Victoria Cleven, was flying home from Los Angeles when she was served a packet of trail mix.

At the time, the plane was darkened, and she started eating the nuts, raisins and grains before realising they tasted odd.

Speaking to the Melbourne’s Herald Sun, she said: “It tasted strange, and I turned the light on and looked at the rest of the packet and just started seeing maggots coming out of it everywhere.”

“I was nearly throwing up. I was beside myself.”

Ms Cleven asked for compensation and was offered a refund by the airline, although this was later changed to around $ 400 of the $ 1600 flight cost.

She said she received a call from Qantas apologising.

A Qantas spokesman said the incident was being investigated and has contacted the supplier, the Sydney Biscuit Company.

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Planning holidays to exotic destinations is always exciting, but it’s vital make sure you are protected against tropical diseases and plan ahead to get vaccinations in good time before you leave. Some vaccinations need time to kick in, so you should contact your doctor at least 8 weeks before departure.

Malaria

Although you cannot be immunised or vaccinated against malaria, there are several precautions you can take that reduce the risk. Malarone tablets are particularly good for areas like East Africa, where the disease has become resistant to chloroquine, and typically only need to be taken one to two days before travelling and for a week after the return journey.

Wearing long-sleeved clothing, using insect repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net will also protect against mosquito bites, a primary transmitter of malaria. Bear in mind that not all accommodation facilities will provide a net, so if in doubt, bring your own.

Tetanus, diphtheria and polio

Most people in the UK will have had the combined vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and polio as children, but if you are travelling to an area where these diseases are prevalent, you will need to have completed a primary course of the vaccine and have had a booster in the last ten years.

Typhoid

Typhoid spreads through contaminated food and water, and it is recommended to get a vaccination if you are travelling to Africa, the Middle East, parts of Asia and South America. The vaccine provides protection against the disease for one to three years, but even if you’ve had the jab it is recommended to take precautions. Avoid drinking tap water and eating food from street vendors in these regions.

Cholera

Cholera is now uncommon in most parts of the world, even the relatively higher-risk locations like India, Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa. However, outbreaks do still occur and travellers should be sure to only drink sealed bottled water, avoid raw foods and maintain good personal hygiene when travelling in these regions.

If you are going to a place where there is an on-going cholera epidemic, there is an oral vaccine called Dukoral that should be taken well in advance of travelling, as the immunisation course must be completed one week prior to exposure.

Hepatitis A

Travellers to the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Central and South America should consider a vaccination against Hepatitis A, although a blood test can reveal whether you are already immune to the virus. If you are not, you will need an injection four to six weeks before you travel, and a subsequent booster shot between six and 12 months later.

Hepatitis B

South-east Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands are the places where Hepatitis B is most common. Three injections of the vaccine over the course of four to six months, which should be completed two months prior to departure, are necessary to be fully protected against the virus.

Get more tips for backpacking around the world on our travel tips page!

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If you have a head for heights and like nothing better than waking up to jaw-dropping views, we’ve found some fabulous hotels with cliff-top locations for you to check in to…

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Aspen is the kind of place that intrepid travellers aspire to visit by any means necessary. Whether you’re a huge fan of skiing or snowboarding, a person who simply wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities, or simply an individual looking to recreate the epic journey of Lloyd and Harry from Dumb and Dumber, Aspen could be the perfect place for you to start or finish a holiday as a backpacker in 2012.

The Colorado-based city is described by its Teletext Holidays guide as the company’s “favourite American resort”, though it goes on to claim that “it has everything we look for – except, obviously, convenience”. For this reason, it serves as the perfect place for people to make their own way to. While it is still an option to transfer to Denver on a flight from one of the main airports of the US, the chance to backpack from somewhere like Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago or New Orleans could be one of the most life-affirming experiences you may ever have.

While the chance to join in on festivities has passed for 2011, the Christmas period for Aspen is one of the busiest and most exciting periods. There are a bunch of free holiday activities that will undoubtedly keep visitors happy in the “12 Days of Aspen”, an event held in a large number of venues across the city for skiers and snowboarders alike.

After making your own way to Aspen, you will find it to be the best place to relax and unwind. Due to its 6,000 or so residents, the town-like atmosphere of the area gives peace and tranquillity – something even reflected on its world-class slopes. These boast perfect snow conditions for sportsmen and women of all abilities, while partnering resorts at Snowmass and the Aspen Highlands spoil you for choice if you want to go slightly further afield.

While Aspen boasts the most expensive property prices in the US, it still remains to be an attractive old-style mining town that drew investment from the silver boom in the late 1800s. For this reason, it is packed with restaurants, bars and shops – both general and specialist – that can cater to the needs of anyone who wants to spend their final few dollars after a long backpacking trip across the States.

5 Things Not to Miss in Aspen:

• The Aspen Art Museum is free every day.
• Ambassador Program – Ambassadors offer free mountain tours daily at 10.30am.
• Free sing-a-long and Kids crafts occur weekly by the campfire at Snowmass base.
• Hallam Lake – walk the half mile nature trail loop.
• The Red Brick centre for the arts – rotating exhibitions, watch the artists at work and browse the shop.

Of course, it may be perfect for Aspen to be a penultimate stop-off. Given its isolation from the rest of Colorado, it may be worth finishing your adventure in Grand Junction, Denver or Colorado Springs. Just ensure you plan well – Aspen’s not the easiest place to get to!

This is a featured post from Teletext Holidays.

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With his huge ears and nose and transparent skin, it looks like a face only a mother could love.

But, funnily enough, we’ve fallen head over heels for this newborn baby aardvark, which is the latest addition to the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The little baby is the second to parents Izzy and Friz, and joins a brother called Zawadi, who will celebrate his first birthday on 10 April.

This newborn weighed in at 4.8lbs and is expected to grow to 120lbs in his first year.

The arrival is particularly special as aardvark zoo births are not common, with less than 40 living in zoos across North America.

In the wild, aardvarks live in sub-Saharan Africa, where savannahs, grassland, and woodlands offer sufficient amounts of their favourite food: ants and termites. The word aardvark means “digging footed” and, as such, the animals use their enormous claws and strong legs to dig for food. They can get through two feet of land in 15 seconds.

When they find food, they use their long (up to 12 inches) sticky tongues to eat up to as many as 50,000 insects in one night, while using their large ears to listen out for predators like lions, hyenas and pythons.

They are nocturnal and solitary creatures, often living in burrows on their own, with only babies and mothers sharing tunnels until the baby is about a year old.

In captivity, the animals can live up to around 24 years old, and this little one can be found at Jambo Junction in the Nairobi section of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park.

See more gorgeous baby zoo animals here:

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