A renewed warning has gone out to motorists to take care during cold weather after a driver was killed when their car hit a tree.

The death of the driver, whose car came off the road and crashed into a tree in Weeting, brings the number of fatalities on the county's roads this year to 35 – two more than in 2015.

Police were called to the B1112 Lynn Road at 6.40am yesterday to reports of the incident around a mile north of the village.

The driver, the car's only occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mike Nairn, chairman of Weeting Parish Council and a former police officer, said he could not recall a traffic collision resulting in serious injury or death happening along the road since he moved to Weeting 38 years ago.

'It can be a fairly fast stretch of road, but you have clear visibility for about a mile as you leave the village towards Methwold.'

He added: 'The weather conditions were such that it was extremely cold and I would say that on certain roads around here, even if you gritted them, if they thawed at all they would refreeze.'

The road was closed for around six hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Two fire crews from Brandon and Methwold were also called to provide assistance.

The incident follows three fatalities on Suffolk's roads since Boxing Day after crashes in Sproughton, Great Bradley near Newmarket and Thorndon near Eye.

While officers are unable to confirm the cause of the crashes at this stage, with investigations continuing, the road conditions are always taken into consideration.

With low temperatures and fog set to continue into the weekend, police are advising drivers to allow extra time for journeys and drive to the conditions.

Chief Inspector Kris Barnard, head of roads policing in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: 'Bad weather increases the risk of accidents happening on the road so it is important drivers take extra care.

'In icy conditions drivers should take extra care, even if the roads have been treated. Drive at appropriate speeds and avoid sudden actions such as heavy breaking as these could cause loss of control if you hit a patch of ice.

'The same advice applies for foggy conditions – slow down and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front. Fog lights should be used when visibility is seriously reduced and must be switched off once it improves so they don't dazzle other road users.'

Further advice is available at www.norfolk.police.uk and www.suffolk.police.uk.

The Met Office issued a severe cold weather warning for the east of England on Wednesday, lasting until today.

On Thursday night temperatures were expected to dip to -3C. Today, fog is expected to lift to low cloud with some brighter spells developing and a maximum temperature of 6C. Overnight temperatures are expected to stay just above freezing.