THE NORTH-EAST is bracing itself for up to a foot of snow as Storm Doris sweeps across the region.

An amber weather warning for snow has been issued by the Met Office for tomorrow.

Between 2am and 6pm heavy snow is expected to fall across the North-East as Storm Doris moves eastwards across central areas of the country.

Widespread areas are expected to be hit with around 15cm of snow, increasing to 30cm on hills above 300 metres.

The snowfall will be accompanied by very strong winds.

An amber weather warning for wind has been issued by the Met Office between 6am and 6pm tomorrow.

Gales could reach speeds of 80mph in areas of northern England, bringing with it the risk of damage to trees and buildings.

Travel services could also be affected and restrictions placed on bridges.

And a yellow warning for rain will be in place from 9pm tonight until 2pm tomorrow.

Heavy rain is expected to affect the region, turning to snow on higher ground.

Highways England is warning motorists to take care in the adverse weather conditions.

Richard Leonard, Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, said: "We’re expecting Storm Doris to have a significant impact on the roads throughout the day tomorrow so are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather.

"Drivers should look out for warnings on the electronic message signs and listen for updates in radio travel bulletins.

"Our traffic officers will also be ready to respond to any incidents during Storm Doris, and we’re urging drivers to respond to the changing conditions on the road to stay safe."