Freezing fog and gales are set to sweep across Merseyside later this month, according to meteorologists.

The Met Office has warned of the icy mist rolling in as part of its long range forecast for the region.

While we can expect a relatively dry week with some sunny spells by Tuesday it will get progressively colder and from January 14 the temperature is set to dip again.

READ MORE: Police discover takeaway driver delivering food with boot full of dead birds

The Met Office said: "A continuation of largely settled conditions is most likely as we head into the middle of January.

"Most areas will be dry with any spells of rain and stronger winds likely to be restricted to northern parts of the country.

"The settled weather will bring widespread overnight frost as well as fog patches, these sometimes freezing.

"Amounts of sunshine are uncertain with areas of fog and low cloud potentially lingering all day in places.

"How long the predominantly settled conditions persist is uncertain with an increasing chance of some unsettled spells returning to many parts as we head towards the end of the period."

The week ahead:

Monday: Overcast with chance of rain in the morning and after 10pm. Highest temperature will be around 10°C, lowest will be around 7°C.

Tuesday: Sunny with mainly clear skies and dry. Highest temperature will be around 8°C, lowest will be around 5°C.

Wednesday: Sunny with mainly clear skies and dry. Highest temperature will be around 8°C, lowest will be around 4°C.

Thursday: Sunny with mainly clear skies and dry. Highest temperature will be around 7°C, lowest will be around 3°C.

Friday: Sunny with mainly clear skies and dry. Highest temperature will be around 6°C, lowest will be around 3°C.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here