Temperature difference of more than 20 degrees between north and south overnight

The coldest night of the year so far has been recorded in Scotland, with the UK seeing a temperature difference of more than 20 degrees between the north and south.

Braemar in Aberdeenshire saw temperatures dip to minus 10.1C, while the Isles of Scilly recorded 10.2C, the Met Office said.

Met Office spokeswoman Emma Sharples said Braemar was a "well-known cold spot" due to its location in the Scottish Highlands.

"It is a valley location, so you tend to get cold air drained down into the valley," she said.

The chilly spell did not beat the coldest night of the winter though - on December 5 temperatures fell to minus 11C in Cromdale, Moray.

Snow cover in Scotland and cold air in the north helped keep temperatures low, with overnight figures of minus 3C in Edinburgh, minus 2.8C in Carlisle and minus 1.6C in Durham.

Meanwhile, temperatures hit 4.3C in Nottingham, 7.1C in Gravesend and 7.7C in Cardiff.