UK weather latest: UK faces 'weeks-long chill' as temperatures plummet to -9C

'Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side'

Britain just woke up to the coldest morning of the week after temperatures fell as low as -9.1C overnight.

That frigid figure was recorded in Shap, Cumbria, the Met Office said, as emergency services warned of treacherous conditions on the roads.

South Western Ambulance Service reported several accidents due to ice and Northumbria Police attended a three-car crash in Gateshead, where the roads were “extremely icy”.

Forecasters believe a weeks-long cold snap could last into March. Snow showers settled during the night in several parts of the UK.

The Met Office’s chief forecaster, Andy Page, said some heavier bursts of sleet and snow were possible in Norfolk and Suffolk, where between 1cm to 4cm of snow could fall, while other areas could see around 1cm of snow but ice “may be the more widespread hazard”.

Snow showers were also predicted for the south-east and a few wintry showers were possible in west Wales and Cornwall. Cloudier across Scotland and Northern Ireland with rain, sleet and snow edging south-eastwards.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said the cold weather could last into March.

He said: “Really much of February and perhaps even into March it is going to stay on the cold side, so temperatures generally below average, with further frosts and also the risk of rain, sleet and snow as well.”

Later in the week, weather fronts bringing slightly warmer Atlantic air will sweep towards the country, but they will also bring rain, the Met Office said.

It said temperatures tomorrow would be from the mid-to-high single figures across the country, but higher winds would make it feel only slightly warmer than Wednesday.

Additional reporting by PA