Cold and frosty start across Portsmouth and Hampshire as temperatures dip well below freezing

All areas of south Hampshire saw freezing temperatures. By 8am Portsmouth saw a temperature just over freezing, while inland over Portsdown Hill and up the Meon Valley temperatures of about -3.5C were recorded.

The Met Office said Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter, while the temperature fell to -6.8C (19.8F) in North Yorkshire's Topcliffe, and hovered around -1C across the capital.

The agency's Alex Burkhill said: ‘It’s been a very frosty start but through the bulk of the day it’s going to be largely fine and largely sunny.’

It would still be ‘quite chilly’ with expected highs of 8C scattered across parts of England, Mr Burkhill said.

A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued by Public Health England from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday and the organisation is urging people to prepare for cold weather conditions and look out for those most at risk.