Forecast: No let-up as cold snap continues across UK

(GETTY)

Icy weather kept a tight grip on the UK last night, while further snowfalls are forecast for today. Temperatures dipped to -20 degrees overnight in parts of the West Midlands and Welsh borders, while by 8pm last night the temperature in Benson in Oxfordshire had dipped to -16.3 degrees. Andrew Sibley, forecaster for the Met Office said: "Another band of snow will move through the south west today along the south coast, which may affect London.

It is likely to spread across the south at rush hour this morning, which may cause widespread disruption." He said there were likely to be "further flurries of snow", particularly in Scotland. But central and Northern England will have a brief respite, although it will remain cold with isolated flurries.

The continuing snow may affect the 14,000 extra evening delivery rounds Royal Mail is planning over the next four days, to try to ease the backlog of their huge Christmas postbag.

Meanwhile, six people were rescued from freezing waters yesterday after a dinghy capsized in blizzard conditions off Alnmouth in Northumberland, the Coastguard said. A 78-year-old man was flown to hospital for treatment.