BRITAIN shivered in the coldest night of winter so far as temperatures plunged to below freezing.
A severe weather warning has been issued as black ice caused carnage on Britain's roads this morning.
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It was a chilly start to the morning in Bushy Park - near Hampton Court Palace - as temperatures plunged overnightCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Birds perch on a frozen lake in Bushy Park, south west London, after temperatures plummetedCredit: PA:Press Association
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A severe weather warning has been issued after the chilly start. Pictured is Bushy Park, south west London, this morningCredit: PA:Press Association
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A walker braves the frosty start for a bitterly cold stroll through Bushy Park in south west LondonCredit: PA:Press Association
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Red deer wake to a frosty morning at Ashton Court Estate in Bristol this morningCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A car skidded off the road near Lowestoft, Suffolk, this morning due to ice on the roadsCredit: Wessex News Agency
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Police said the Suffolk crash was caused by ice but no one was injuredCredit: Wessex News Agency
Four motorways saw accidents during rush hour as commuters faced a sub-zero journey to work.
There were crashes on the M180 in Lincolnshire, M6 in Cumbria, M20 in Kent and M60 in Manchester before 9am.
The freezing conditions also saw a car skid into a ditch near Lowestoft in Suffolk as Britain becomes colder than Iceland.
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A golf course in Appleby in Cumbria was frozen this morning as Britain woke up to a big chillCredit: Rex Features
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Stunning aerial shots taken this morning show the frozen golf course in ApplebyCredit: Rex Features
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Temperatures plummeted overnight in the north of England including in CumbriaCredit: Rex Features
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Frost on the Appleby golf course in Cumbria this morning after a freezing eveningCredit: Rex Features
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Deers in Bushy Park, south west London, shivered this morning as Britain woke up to temperatures colder than IcelandCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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The UK is expected to get warmer heading into the weekend after a cold start this morning near Hampton CourtCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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The sun rises in Bushy Park this morning ahead of another frosty day for BritainCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Last night saw temperatures plummet to -8.1C in England - making it the coldest winter evening of 2016 and 2017.
The chilly temperature was recorded in Benson, Oxfordshire.
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Frost gathers on ground near Salisbury Cathedral this morning after the coldest winter night so far in EnglandCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Below freezing temperatures caused a chilly start to the morning with a ground frost in Harnam Water Meadows in WiltshireCredit: PA:Press Association
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A walker braves the cold in Harnam Water Meadows in Wiltshire this morning after a cold night in the UKCredit: PA:Press Association
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The chilly weather is expected to continue today. Pictured is Salisbury Cathedral in WiltshireCredit: PA:Press Association
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Punters out on the river Cam in Cambridge this morning after a cold January morningCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Despite the cold, it has been sunny and bright in Cambridge todayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A cyclist wraps up against the cold in Cambridge todayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
Met Office forecaster Charles Powell said: "Temperatures will be getting lowish, with some dropping below freezing.
"The icy conditions are likely to be seen in the east where some showers are expected. But the cloud means temperatures will not be desperately low."
He added that temperatures would be lower further inland, with parts of the Midlands looking at lows of -6C.
The Met Office's yellow weather warning is in place until this morning after icy patches formed overnight on the roads.
It covers Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and the east of England.
A spokesman for road safety charity Brake said: “Drivers need to be extra cautious on our roads throughout the winter months.
“Ice, snow, heavy rain and fog make driving incredibly risky: stopping distances double in wet weather and can increase ten-fold in ice and snow.
“In bad conditions, we urge people to think about whether their journey is really necessary.”
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It will still feel cold today and a severe weather warning is in place because of icy patches on the roads
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Frost covers Hampton Court this morning as the freezing conditions are set continue in some areas todayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A cyclist enjoys a brisk ride through Bushy Park in London this morning despite the sub-zero conditionsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Jokers write 'Brrexit' on a frozen car windscreen in north London this morning as temperatures fell to below zeroCredit: London News Pictures
The appears to be thawing thanks to milder Atlantic air sweeping the UK.
Temperatures will be nudged into double figures throughout much of the country at the weekend.
But the warmer conditions will only continue for a couple of days as Britain is expected to be hit with another Arctic freeze at the end of the next week.
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A lake froze over in Bushy Park near Hampton Court Palace this morning due to frozen conditionsCredit: PA:Press Association
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Ducks woke to chilly temperatures in Bushy Park this morning after a deep freeze overnightCredit: PA:Press Association
Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: "From Friday and into the weekend it is looking cloudy and this will mean it will be less cold than the past few days, we could see highs of 10C in the south and 5C in the north during the day this weekend.
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The sun rises on a cold morning in Southport, Merseyside, after temperatures droppedCredit: Alamy
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A flock of Canadian geese fly through an orange sky in Southport, Merseyside, this morningCredit: Alamy
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A rider braves the cold in Ainsdale, Merseyside this morning as she exercises her cob ponyCredit: Alamy
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Bitter winds in Southport, Merseyside, blow in flocks of Sanderlings, Knot and Dunlin birds this morningCredit: Alamy
“We are keeping our eyes on a potentially stormy situation on Monday, it is likely to be pretty windy across Scotland and we may issue a yellow warning in due course.
“Elsewhere it will be windy with a band of rain moving quite quickly across the country.”
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