Ice and snow warnings remain in place as cold snap continues

The Met Office have confirmed today that the current cold weather alert will remain in place until Wednesday.

The weather and climate service posted an update on Twitter advising Britons of the ongoing Level 3 weather conditions:

Last night temperatures across the UK fell to the lowest of the year with the mercury plunging as low as -8.7 (16.3F) in places such as Katesbridge, Co Down.

A weather warning for ice is in place today, including in the east Midlands, as freezing temperatures and offshore rain showers increase the risk of slippy surfaces.

Temperatures are expected to plunge over the next three days as 2014 gets set to end on a cold note.

Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of -10C (14F) overnight - the coldest it has been all year - 48 hours after snowfall affected travellers in parts of northern England, Scotland and the Midlands.

Bookmakers have installed odds of 5/1 that snow will fall in London on New Year's Day, with odds of 9/4 and 3/1 for Edinburgh and Belfast, respectively.

Temperatures are set to plunge to -10C overnight as more harsh weather is expected across the UK today.

Rain showers are due this morning which will clear much of the snow away but motorists should be wary of icy patches.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: "We will still have showers, which is likely to mean the snow will not settle.

"But it is going to be very cold indeed, as low as 4 or 5C in the south and 2C in the north."

Roads and airports have been affected by icy blizzards especially in the north of England.

Freezing conditions tonight are expected to cause further disruption on Sunday as ITV News' Sascha Williams reports.

The AA's rescue team is out helping recovery work in Sheffield and Derbyshire following heavy Boxing Day snow.

Many abandoned cars were left in Sheffield overnight due to the heavy snowfall, while icy conditions are expected to make driving conditions difficult today.

A yellow severe weather warning for ice has been issued as cold winds hi the UK.

The Met Office warned of widespread icy patches and warned the public to take "extra care", while warning of the possibility of some disruption to travel.

The warning is expected to hold from 4pm this afternoon to midday on Sunday, as temperatures fall below freezing when in darkness.

Warnings are also in place for further snow and wind - with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour expected quite widely early on Saturday.