Brits have been warned they face a long period of cold weather after temperatures plunged across the country overnight.
People have been advised to take precautions over the winter months as the mercury fell well below zero in parts of the UK.
The Met Office said the cold weather would remain on Saturday and Sunday, with a short-lived milder day on Monday, before a prolonged period of low temperatures throughout next week and the following week.
Public Health England issued the warning after figures earlier this week showed there were more than 34,000 “excess deaths” across England and Wales over the last winter period, the second highest level in eight years.
Dr Thomas Waite, of their Extreme Events team, said: “We’re well used to winter in this country so most people know what to do to protect their health before and during cold spells.
“But there are people who may not take precautions and who are at a very real risk.
“We know that every winter thousands of people fall ill and many die because of exposure to cold both in the home and while outdoors.
“Those most at risk include older people, very young children and those with conditions like heart and lung disease.”
There were frosty scenes across the country on Saturday, with Topcliffe in Yorkshire experiencing minus 5.2C, and Benson, Oxfordshire, hitting a low of minus 4.9C.
There were smatterings of snow in parts of Scotland and the West Midlands.
North West Motorway Police reported icy, treacherous conditions on stretches of the M62, while police in Kent urged drivers to be careful on icy roads.
Commuters saw disruptions on Southern Rail and South Western Railway, Thameslink and Gatwick Express trains due to ice causing problems with the tracks.
Travellers faced cancellations, suspended services and delays on some rail services in the south-east throughout Saturday morning, but trains were running normally again by 1.30pm.
Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: “The forecast is a day of sunshine and wintry showers, mostly across the north and west.
“It will generally be dry across the central and eastern parts of England.
“In the north and west of Scotland, the showers will be wintry at times and over higher ground we are likely to see snow, although it could fall on lower ground as well.
“It will be a cold and breezy day, feeling incredibly cold for November.
“Highs across the UK will be seven degrees at best, feeling colder in the wind. There will be a risk of ice throughout Saturday night into Sunday as well.”
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