Met Office forecasters and BBC meteorologists have responded to claims UK weather maps will "turn blue" next week.

According to some publishers, a 1,800-mile Arctic blast will bring snow and wintry weather to the country as October's miserable run of bad weather continues.

WX Charts charts and maps, projected using Met Desk data, show a wintry band of weather sweeping the country on October 15.

Now, the Met Office has issued a forecast from October 7 to October 16.

The forecasting body said: "An Atlantic low pressure system will drift eastwards across the UK through the first part of next week. This will bring widely unsettled conditions, with showers or longer spells of rain, heavy and persistent at times, especially over hills.

"Strong winds are possible too, with exposed and windward coastal areas prone to the strongest winds. The theme of low pressure will continue to dominate the weather for the rest of the week, with showers or longer spells of rain.

"There is a possibility that a deeper low-pressure system, ex-Hurricane Kirk, will move close to the UK around mid-week, bringing further spells of wet and windy weather. Alternatively, this system could remain to the west of the UK.

"However, the theme of unsettled weather is expected to prevail."

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The BBC added: "An active North Atlantic jet stream could also remain in place, albeit with a west-to-south-westerly flow on average.

"Temperatures could therefore be slightly above average, mainly in the southern half of the UK and near average or slightly below at times in Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland, along with slightly drier and calmer conditions, particularly in Scotland.

"England and Wales could see further wet and quite windy conditions at times. However, temporary high-pressure influence with generally drier and calmer spells is still possible."