ICY and snowy conditions are set to affect East Lancashire commuters for most of this week despite the average temperature rising to 11C this weekend.

The adverse weather caused perilous driving conditions earlier today after snow showers on Sunday night settled on roads across the region.

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The unexpected snowfall contributed to a number of collisions during the morning's rush hour including on the M6, M65 and the A56.

The series of collisions came before the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice and said that wintry showers are expected into tomorrow.

Motorists faced long delays in and around junction 31 of the M6 after two vehicles were involved in a collision shortly after 6.20am.

Lancashire Police said that no-one involved was injured and both vehicles were moved to the hard shoulder before the north-bound carriageway could be reopened.

The emergency services were also called to the A56 after a mini bus ended up facing the wrong way on the opposite side of the road shortly after 7am.

Long delays around Wilpshire, heading into Blackburn, were caused when two cars were involved in an incident at 6.30am near the Spice Lounge in Wilpshire Road, Rishton.

The police closed the road after a Vauxhall Corsa appeared to lose control and skidded into a nearby ditch.

A blue Volkswagen Passat was also involved and came to rest on its roof.

No injuries were reported and the road was closed while Lancashire County Council gritted the surface.

The adverse weather also caused Todmorden Road, Burnley to be closed in both directions because of the snow.

The closure was in place from Burnley Road to Bacup Old Road and was lifted around 11am.

A Met Office spokesman said: "The cold westerly flow which became established across the UK on Sunday night is set to continue into Tuesday.

"This is a very unstable airmass bringing showers of sleet, snow and hail.

"Again, once we lose the effects of daytime sunshine, snow will start to accumulate more widely, and along with ice may present some problems, in particular for road travel on Tuesday morning.

"This again seems most likely for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and cross Pennine routes.

"Problems should reduce steadily further into this morning, as the March sunshine gets to work on melting the snow."

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “We would urge all drivers to take extra care when driving in difficult weather conditions and to make sure they reduce their speed, increase stopping distances and allow extra time for any journeys they have to make.”

The mercury is set to drop to 4C tomorrow but will rise steadily throughout the remained of the week to 9C on Friday.

Temperatures will peak at 11C on Saturday and Sunday before dropping again to 8C on Tuesday.