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Warnings issued amid winter chill Arctic snap expected to continue
(about 3 hours later)
Severe weather warnings have been issued in some parts of the UK as temperatures dipped as low as -11C (12.2F) overnight. The cold snap is expected to continue across the UK, with lows of -8C (17.6F) forecast for much of southern England and Wales.
The Met Office issued alerts for the morning in parts of south-east England and northern Scotland. Forecasters say temperatures could drop to -10C in rural Hampshire and Surrey and Bristol could dip to -6C overnight.
Cold weather is expected to continue, with lows of -10C forecast for southern England and Wales into Wednesday. The mercury dropped to -11C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and in Shap, Cumbria, on Monday night.
The RAC is urging drivers to take care, with blackspots in the West Midlands, northern and south-eastern England. Britain's biggest pensioner group has warned that 12 pensioners could die every hour during the cold snap.
The prediction from the National Pensioner Convention (NPC) is based on official statistics, which show from December 2007 to March 2008 there were an extra 25,300 deaths in England and Wales compared with the average for non-winter months.
The NPC is calling on the government to double the winter fuel allowance to £500 for every household and introduce a industry-wide tariff for older customers.
Since 1997, we have lost over 260,000 pensioners during the winter months because of cold-related illnesses, yet the government seems incapable of acting Joe Harris, NPC general secretary
Joe Harris, NPC general secretary, said pensioners needed more money so they could avoid having to decide whether to "heat or eat".
"Since 1997, we have lost over 260,000 pensioners during the winter months because of cold related illnesses, yet the government seems incapable of acting," he said.
"Pensioners see rising fuel bills and are constantly worried about whether or not they can afford to put their heating on."
City lows
There are not currently any severe weather warnings in place, but drivers are still being urged to take care.
The RAC reported blackspots in the West Midlands and northern and south-eastern England.
Much of the UK woke up to icy scenes [Photo: Steve Dawes]Much of the UK woke up to icy scenes [Photo: Steve Dawes]
The mercury dropped to -11C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, and in Shap, Cumbria, overnight.
There were school closures in several areas on Tuesday, including 20 schools across Wales.There were school closures in several areas on Tuesday, including 20 schools across Wales.
Water from burst pipes flooded a classroom and caused the collapse of the staff room ceiling at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary, in Gloucestershire.Water from burst pipes flooded a classroom and caused the collapse of the staff room ceiling at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary, in Gloucestershire.
Meanwhile, police in the West Country urged drivers to delay journeys because of the ice after seven crashes, including two multi-car collisions on the A38 - at Harcombe Bends in Devon and at Tideford, Cornwall. Meanwhile, police in south-west England urged drivers to delay journeys because of ice after seven crashes, including two multi-car collisions on the A38 at Harcombe Bends, Devon, and at Tideford, Cornwall.
Forecasters say temperatures in Scotland will rise throughout the day as cloud and rain spreads southwards. Forecasters say temperatures in Scotland will rise throughout the day as cloud and rain spread southwards.
However, sub-zero temperatures will remain in the Manchester and Hull areas and southern England and Wales face another freezing night. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Severe weather? It's a tad chilly, with a bit of a frost and a bit of sleet Mike Overell, Aberdeen class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5875&edition=1&ttl=20090106095817">Send us your comments and pictures However, sub-zero temperatures will remain in the Manchester and Hull areas - and southern England, the Midlands and Wales face another freezing night.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings of widespread icy roads in East Sussex, Kent and Medway, and freezing rain across the north of Scotland. Cardiff, Birmingham and Nottingham are due to suffer lows of -5C, with London dropping to -2C. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Severe weather? It's a tad chilly, with a bit of a frost and a bit of sleet Mike Overell, Aberdeen class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5875&edition=1&ttl=20090106095817">Send us your comments and pictures
Gritters were out spreading thousands of tonnes of salt on roads across the UK throughout the night. Gritters were out spreading thousands of tonnes of salt on roads across the UK throughout the night on Monday.
Water firm Severn Trent has asked its eight million customers across the Midlands and Wales to protect their water systems, after it was reported pipes were freezing even while heating was on. Also on Monday, motoring organisations reported a 100% increase in the number of call-outs they had received.
Flights were suspended for 90 minutes at Birmingham International Airport early on Monday and snow meant the runway had to be closed at Luton Airport for a similar length of time, leading to flight diversions.
The start of the new term was delayed for some pupils in Gloucestershire where 15 schools were closed, and at least 11 schools in Kent were shut.
In Wales, a number of roads and schools were affected and the drop in temperatures saw a rise in the number of people treated in hospitals for falls on ice.
Meanwhile, near Spalding, in Lincolnshire, a 30-year-old woman was killed when her car ended up in the path of a train at a level crossing after clipping another vehicle during the icy conditions.Freezing conditions are set to continue into Wednesday
Motoring organisations reported a 100% increase in the number of call-outs they had received.
The AA said most of the extra workload came from home starts, with flat batteries being the most common problem.The AA said most of the extra workload came from home starts, with flat batteries being the most common problem.
Age Concern urged vulnerable older people to take extra precautions to stay warm and keep active during the cold spell.Age Concern urged vulnerable older people to take extra precautions to stay warm and keep active during the cold spell.
The charity added that £5bn of benefits were still going unclaimed, although the government said 2.5 million cold weather payments had already been made.The charity added that £5bn of benefits were still going unclaimed, although the government said 2.5 million cold weather payments had already been made.
BBC weather forecaster John Hammond explained that the current freezing conditions have been caused by an outbreak of Arctic air which has swept across Scandinavia and over the North Sea. BBC weather forecaster John Hammond explained that the current freezing conditions had been caused by Arctic air sweeping across Scandinavia and over the North Sea.
Temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago, and the current cold period is expected to ease later in the week.Temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago, and the current cold period is expected to ease later in the week.
Pensioners worried about high energy bills can call Age Concern's free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for advice.Pensioners worried about high energy bills can call Age Concern's free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for advice.
Are you being affected by the cold weather snap? Has your school or business been closed because of the weather or has your journey been hampered? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you being affected by the cold weather snap? Has your school or business been closed because of the weather or has your journey been hampered? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
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