Snow, ice and stranded people: amber alert issued as parts of UK face coldest weather in years

A new amber warning for snow has been issued in the south-west of England as temperatures are expected to plummet as low as -20C in parts of the UK in the coming nights.

- Robyn Vinter

Yellow warnings for snow are in place across northern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the south coast of England overnight and into today, with an additional warning across the west and north of Wales that also encompasses Merseyside and Chester.

Further warnings are expected to be issued as the week goes on, the Met Office said, amid an icy blast that represents the lowest temperatures recorded in years.

The BBC's weather forecaster, MeteoGroup, is predicting tonight could reach -20 in remote parts of northern England and Scotland, while the Met Office is forecasting -16.

At the Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub, 10 people snowed in said they were "still in high spirits, not sure for how long though".