Disruptive sn0w' alert for some areas as arctic blast brings first taste of winter

Weather forecasters told people in parts of the UK yesterday to be prepared for "disruptive snow" and plummeting temperatures after an arctic blast brought the coldest night of the season so far.

- Mark Brown

The Met Office said the early hours of yesterday had been the chilliest night, with the lowest temperature, -7.8C (18F), recorded at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.

By the morning, many households across Britain had to de-ice their car windscreens for the first time after an unusually mild start to the month.

This week is set to be strikingly cold. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season and along with the charity Age UK said that the conditions could be dangerous for Vulnerable people including the elderly.

Dr Agostinho Sousa frorn the UKHSA said: "This is the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on Vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather - particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk."