Weather: 'Ice pancakes' form on river

Ice Pancakes on the River Irthing Credit: Joan Thirlaway

It is a bit of an alien sight on one of our rivers.

Last night saw the coldest temperatures of the winter so far for England, down to -8 in some parts, and the falling mercury created an unusual phenomenon.

Ice pancakes, each about the size of a dinner plate, have been spotted on the on the River Irthing near Gilsland, which straddles the border between Cumbria and Northumberland.

Joan Thirlaway was lucky to spot them and sent in these pictures.

These icy circles normally form in rough seas around the Arctic and Antarctic but, when temperatures fall low enough, they can form in some rivers.

It is thought the strange circular site happens when bits of foam on the water start to freeze and bump into each other.

Temperatures need to be very low Credit: Joan Thirlaway

A similar site was spotted by Yvonne Alderson on the River Tees in Darlington in February last year:

Last February on the River Tees Credit: Yvonne Alderson