Around 10 hours of heavy snow showers with temperatures well below freezing are expected across Maldon district from this afternoon (Monday, 8 February).

While the Maldon area escaped with little more than a light dusting of snow yesterday, despite the Met Office amber weather warning, heavy snow showers and freezing temperatures are now predicted from 4pm this afternoon until 2am tomorrow.

Vaccination and testing centres in Maldon currently remain open, as do the Chelmsford Racecourse and Wickford vaccination centre sites. The Colchester Football Stadium site has been temporarily closed.

Essex NHS has issued the following statement with regard to vaccinations and the weather situation: "If you will be attending an appointment at one of our centres over the next few days, please plan your journey carefully and wrap up warmly.

"Please don't take any unnecessary risks; if you would prefer not to travel in poor weather conditions, you can rearrange your appointment via 'manage your appointment' on the NHS national booking website. Alternatively, you can ring 119 to rebook.

"Please do not worry if you cannot immediately see an alternative appointment. We will be adding many more slots over the coming weeks so please check back regularly."

For more information and updates on the situation with regard to vaccination centres, you can visit the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust website by using the link here.

A number of schools in the area have been closed for the children of key workers and other students who usually attend at the current time because of the weather. The details of which schools will have emergency closures in place the following day are updated at 6pm daily on the Essex County Council website and you find the webpage by using the link here.