British Gas urges households to stockpile eight items before midnight

British Gas has urged households in England to stockpile eight items before the weekend. Storm Bert is threatening to strike the country this weekend, with energy customers warned over heavy snowfall, as the Met Office issues amber warnings from 00.00am on Saturday.

British Gas has ensured households to ensure they have torches, chargers, batteries, as well as medicine, water, food and blankets, and snacks. It says: “That’s things like medicines, drinking water, non-perishable food and snacks, and extra blankets.

"You should also keep a torch, batteries and a phone charger close by too.” In a yellow weather warning for snow in England on Saturday, the Met Office warned: "Wintry showers are expected to gradually move south this afternoon, then feeding inland from Irish Sea and North Sea coasts at times this evening and overnight, especially through the Cheshire Gap to affect parts of the Midlands and north Wales.

READ MORE All the nine parts of UK facing 15 inches of snow on Saturday

"Where these occur 2-5cm of fresh snow is possible, with this most likely on ground above 100m." The forecasters added: "Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces during Thursday evening and overnight into Friday morning as temperatures drop below freezing, especially following any showers."

An amber warning for Scotland adds: "Heavy snow will spread northeastwards on Saturday morning, giving significant accumulations in many areas. Accumulations of 10-20 cm are likely on ground typically above 200m, with potentially as much as 20-40 cm on hills above 400m.

"Snow will eventually revert to rain during Saturday afternoon, but may be preceded by a short spell of freezing rain in places adding to the ice risk. Strengthening winds will lead to drifting of lying snow, with difficult travelling conditions likely on higher level routes, and the risk of interruptions to power supplies.

"A fairly rapid thaw of lying snow is then likely on Saturday night as milder air moves in."