Britain is braced for temperatures of -20C

The freezing weather showed no signs of abating yesterday, with savage frosts expected overnight and forecasters predicting temperatures as low as minus 20C in some parts of Britain.

The freezing weather showed no signs of abating yesterday, with savage frosts expected overnight and forecasters predicting temperatures as low as minus 20C in some parts of Britain.

Many people returning to work were left stranded as their cars froze and batteries died. Their journeys were made worse by recent floods.

Weather forecasters predicted snow showers along the east coast of England and throughout the South-east with temperatures expected to fall to between minus 5C and minus 10C overnight. But that was balmy compared with temperatures in parts of the Scottish glens, whichfell to about minus 20C.

"Over the next 24 hours it is going to stay severely cold," the Met Office said. "Over the week it is going to stay cold – bitterly cold on Tuesday and Wednesday – but Thursday and Friday are not so bad."