UK weather: Lows of -9.8C recorded yesterday, Met Office reveals – as warnings remain in place
Motorists have been urged to drive safely as police said they have been dealing with a “lot of accidents” in icy conditions on the roads.
Surrey Police issued the warning as the Met Office said ice will affect many areas this morning, meaning it’s “worth leaving extra time for any journeys that you have planned”.
The national weather service added on Twitter that many places will see some “winter sunshine” after a “frosty start” to the day.
Wintry showers can be expected in areas exposed to the brisk northwesterly wind and there will be snow in places.
Surrey Police wrote on Twitter: “This is snow joke, baby it’s cold out there. Please take care on the roads, the gritters are out and about but we are dealing with a lot of accidents at the moment.”
Yesterday morning was the coldest of the year so far with “plenty of wintry hazards around during the day”.
The temperature plummeted as low as -9.8C in the village of Topcliffe in North Yorkshire.
Yellow weather warnings covering much of the west of England and large parts of Wales will be in place until midday today – and “snow showers and icy stretches may cause some disruption”.
A yellow weather warning covering the south of England will be in place until 10am, and “ice is likely to cause difficult driving conditions”.
Much of Northern Ireland and northern Scotland are also covered by yellow warnings.
The Met Office has said further weather warnings for snow and ice are likely to be issued for tonight.
Forecasters have warned temperatures could stay below average into next week in parts of the UK as the cold spell continues.
Drivers have been urged to be careful after dozens of people were injured following a crash involving a double-decker bus and a motorcycle in “treacherous” freezing conditions in Somerset on Tuesday.
A major incident was declared and the A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater was closed with police, fire and ambulance units remaining on the scene into the afternoon.
NHS Somerset said 27 patients were taken to a minor injuries unit while another 26 were taken to the emergency department at Musgrove Hospital for injuries consistent with a “serious traffic collision”.
A “small number” of those injured were left needing surgery, the service said.
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Screams heard from overturned bus
The Met Office said it expects milder air to start moving in from Friday afternoon in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Spokesman Oli Claydon said: “That will slowly spread across the rest of the UK. Southeast England will hold onto colder temperatures for longer.”
The County Councils Network, which represents 36 county and unitary district councils in England, said more than 2,000 warm spaces remain open as temperatures drop and people look for somewhere to keep warm amid the cost of living crisis.
The Met Office recorded the coldest night of last year on the night of 12 to 13 December when temperatures plunged to -15.7C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, during a cold snap.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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