Warnings in place as cold weather hits

LARGE parts of the country will face disruption from heavy snow and freezing rain over the weekend after forecasters issued two amber weather warnings.

Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are all likely as the UK grapples with a week-long spell of wintry conditions, the Met Office said.

There is also a "good chance" that rural communities could be cut off due to the conditions, with up to 30cm of snowfall expected locally.

It comes after initial data indicated Rostherne in Cheshire and Yeovilton in Somerset saw temperatures drop to minus 5°C overnight into Friday, just shy of previous estimates which suggested the mercury could dip as low as minus 8°C.

The coldest temperature recorded in January last year was minus 14C, in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.