Big freeze hits UK

Many parts of the country can expect snow

The UK is bracing itself as the first big freeze of the winter gets underway.

Much of the UK woke up to frost on Wednesday, and forecasters have warned that a band of sleet and snow will move north east across England and Wales in the evening.

In Scotland, which had already experienced freezing conditions over Christmas, temperatures plunged further still overnight.

A low of -12 C was recorded at Altnaharra in Caithness, and forecasters predicted that temperatures would stay well below freezing in many parts of Scotland during the day.

Arctic blast

The lowest overnight temperature recorded in England was -9.3 C in Redesdale, Northumberland.

Experts say the freezing weather is being caused by a cold front streaming down from the Arctic Circle.

Over the next few days, drivers across the UK face the danger of ice on the roads.

Despite the fact that no rain is forecast, it is likely that water left from floods earlier this year could seep out and freeze over.

Freezing fog has already made driving conditions in Scotland extremely hazardous.

The seasons are very odd at the moment

Wakehurst Place
spokesman

But despite the big freeze spreading across the UK, staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens' country garden in West Sussex are already dealing with the first signs of spring.

The mild weather during the rest of December has meant that daffodils and primroses at Wakehurst Place, near Ardingly, are flowering at least two months before they should.

Horticulturists are being forced to protect the early blooms amid fears that the freezing weather could kill them off.

A spokesman said: "We can't say whether this is an example of global warming, but the seasons are very odd at the moment.

"This is the first time in 50 years anyone can remember the shoots appearing this soon before spring."

Among the sporting casualties from the weather was Wednesday's race meeting at Wetherby, west Yorkshire, which was cancelled.