POLICE in North Dorset have issued a warning to motorists to plan their journeys as temperatures could plunge to -5°C tonight.

Officers say they have attended “many weather-related road traffic collisions” across the county due to icy roads and low sun recently.

(Photo: Dorset Police)

They said while these incidents were “damage only” crashes, they still required the police, fire and ambulance services, with follow up help needed from local recovery companies.

The Met Office predicts temperatures could remain as low as -4°C at 6am tomorrow morning (December 6) – when many drivers are setting off to work.

Parents on the school run are also being advised to take care as temperatures are likely to remain below freezing until mid-morning.

North Dorset Police is urging people heading out onto the icy roads to make sure they plan ahead, leave earlier and slow down.

A spokesman added: “Please be mindful of the road conditions, drive to those conditions, and be aware of microclimates, such as roads through wooded areas where there is shade, as the temperatures will be lower, and the sun may not have melted the ice.”