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Last Updated: Tuesday January 06 2009 16:22 GMT

Britain gripped by big freeze

A snowman at Epsom Downs

It's no surprise for it to be chilly in winter, but it's been as cold as the Arctic in some parts of the UK, and it could get worse!

People have been warned to take extra care after temperatures dropped to -11 degrees in parts of northern Scotland the south east of England.

The freezing conditions have affected flights, closed schools in England and Wales, and caused delays on the roads.

And forecasters say the bad weather could last until the end of the week.

A swan trying to land on a frozen lake in West Yorkshire
There are also warnings to watch out for slippery pavements when you're out and about as loads more people are being treated in hospital after falling over on the ice.

People have also been warned not to walk on any frozen lakes or rivers, especially after police were called out to help three teenagers who had fallen into a frozen reservoir in Bury, Lancashire.

Record

Weather experts say an outbreak of Arctic air sweeping across the North Sea is responsible for Britain's big chill.

Frozen fountain in London's Trafalgar Square
Temperatures in Scotland are expected to rise slightly during the day, but there's another freezing night in store for Manchester, Hull, southern England and Wales.

But however cold you're feeling now, we're still a long way off the bone-chilling record of -27 degrees that was recorded in northern Scotland 14 years ago.