Another sustained period of bad weather across much of Italy is hampering the country's agricultural sector and raising concerns about a number of fresh fruit and vegetable crops grown accross the country.

According to national farming association CIA, a sustained period of snow, ice and freezing temperatures is likely to have 'further serious consequences' for a number of products. With snow and ice expected to be heavy in much of northern and central Italy, forecasters are also predicting some snow in the south.

Below-zero temperatures and hail are understood to have caused damage to early blossoming fruit trees including apricots, plums, cherries and almonds, as well as to open-field vegetable production, above all lettuce, broccoli and artichokes, the organisation said.

With the CIA estimating the latest damage to crops at around 20 per cent, the conditions follow hot on the heels of recent damage to vegetable and citrus production caused by poor conditions last month and heavy rainfall in parts of the country over the past few weeks.

'The wave of cold weather has hit fruit trees which, in many areas, had just started to flower,' the CIA reported. 'Many of these crops are, unfortunately, at risk of being lost, and the same is true of vegetables.'

Snow is also reported to have cut off a number of roads, while many producers said they were having to use more fuel in order to keep trees warm and above freezing point.

Temperatures in much of central and northern Italy are expected to remain around 0°C for the rest of the week and into the weekend, with the cold, icy conditions likely to persist until early next week.

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