Warnings as heavy snow, ice and freezing cold set to hit Britain this weekend

Public health bosses are expecting a rise in deaths from cold weather amid severe weather warnings for snow and ice over the next five days.

- Robyn Vinter Hannah Al-Othman

The UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued an amber alert for social care in England, saying vulnerable people were at risk as the country braced for heavy snow and ice going into the weekend.

Five days' worth of yellow Met Office warnings are in place, beginning with snow and ice warnings stretching from the Shetland Islands to Derby and Nottingham, including north Wales and Northern Ireland.

By tomorrow, these will be replaced by a blanket warning for heavy snow across England, Wales and southern parts of Scotland, which will remain in place until Monday morning.

About 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines, according to forecasters. A rise in deaths, in particular among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, was likely, the UKHSA said.

Some people will have challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18C, leading to increased risk to vulnerable people.

Charities said that some elderly people who were not given the winter fuel allowance by the government would find it difficult.

Age UK's director, Caroline Abrahams, said the charity had already been contacted by some who were "worrying about what to do when this moment arrived".