MORE snow is forecast for north Essex.

The Met Office predicts the weather will turn sunny by the weekend but says there will be heavy snow today and further showers tomorrow.

The county is already in the grip of snow and ice and more schools in the Colchester area have closed today, compared to yesterday.

The north and mid Essex schools which have shut are: Baynards Primary in Tiptree, Goosecroft Special School, Eight Ash Green & Kelvedon sites, Howbridge Infant, Witham, Howbridge Junior, Witham, Kelvedon & Feering Pre-School, Kelvedon St Mary's Primary, Kelvedon Kings Ford Infant & Nursery, Colchester, Kings Ford Junior, Colchester, Kingswode Hoe School, Colchester Langenhoe Community Primary, Colchester Lexden Springs Special School, Colchester, Little Hands Pre-School Nursery, Witham, Market Field School, Elmstead Market, Messing Primary, Milldene Primary, Tiptree, Old Heath Community Primary & Pre-School, Colchester, Powers Hall Junior, Witham, Southview School, Witham, St Andrews C of E Primary, Marks Tey, St Benedict's College, Colchester, St Luke's Primary, Tiptree, St Peter's Primary, Coggeshall, Templars Infants & Nursery, Witham, Templars Junior, Witham, Tiptree Heath Primary, Tollesbury School, Tolleshunt D'Arcy Pre-School, St Nicholas Primary, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Woodham Walter Primary.