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| Warning for drivers after new low | Warning for drivers after new low |
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| Motorists were warned to take care on the roads after temperatures plunged to -12C (10.4F) overnight, on the coldest night so far of Britain's big freeze. | Motorists were warned to take care on the roads after temperatures plunged to -12C (10.4F) overnight, on the coldest night so far of Britain's big freeze. |
| A Met Office warning for ice was issued for Northern Ireland, northern England, the north Midlands and the South East. | A Met Office warning for ice was issued for Northern Ireland, northern England, the north Midlands and the South East. |
| The low was at Benson, in Oxfordshire and the cold snap of the last eight days is set to last into the weekend. | The low was at Benson, in Oxfordshire and the cold snap of the last eight days is set to last into the weekend. |
| But night time temperatures are forecast to be more mild with averages falling to about -1C (30.2F). | But night time temperatures are forecast to be more mild with averages falling to about -1C (30.2F). |
| The BBC Weather Centre said snow and freezing rain spread from northern England and Northern Ireland to the Midlands and south-east England early on. | The BBC Weather Centre said snow and freezing rain spread from northern England and Northern Ireland to the Midlands and south-east England early on. |
| BBC forecaster Liam Dutton said: "There is still the odd flake of snow here and there but generally it's a drying out process for the rest of the day." | BBC forecaster Liam Dutton said: "There is still the odd flake of snow here and there but generally it's a drying out process for the rest of the day." |
| Temperatures are predicted to reach 2C (35.6F) to 3C (37.4F) across the UK but there will be more cloud and it will be milder towards the north west of Scotland. | Temperatures are predicted to reach 2C (35.6F) to 3C (37.4F) across the UK but there will be more cloud and it will be milder towards the north west of Scotland. |
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| Driving tips for coping with icy road conditions | |
| The cold snap has resulted in the unusual sight of the fountains in London's Trafalgar Square fountains being frozen over. | The cold snap has resulted in the unusual sight of the fountains in London's Trafalgar Square fountains being frozen over. |
| Meanwhile, the water supply to 6,000 homes in the Rhondda valley, south Wales, continues to be affected by frozen pipes. | |
| About 30 schools closed for the day in Cumbria, which saw up to 3 in (7.6 cm) of snow overnight, and 15 remain shut in parts of north, west and south Wales. | About 30 schools closed for the day in Cumbria, which saw up to 3 in (7.6 cm) of snow overnight, and 15 remain shut in parts of north, west and south Wales. |
| The 50-pupil Ysgol Rhewl in Ruthin, North Wales closed after thieves stole the oil needed to heat its buildings. | The 50-pupil Ysgol Rhewl in Ruthin, North Wales closed after thieves stole the oil needed to heat its buildings. |
| The AA and RAC said they had dealt with an estimated 50,000 call-outs over the past two days. | The AA and RAC said they had dealt with an estimated 50,000 call-outs over the past two days. |
| The National Pensioner Convention warned that 12 pensioners could die every hour during the cold snap. | The National Pensioner Convention warned that 12 pensioners could die every hour during the cold snap. |
| It called on the government to double the winter fuel allowance to £500 for every household and introduce an industry-wide tariff for older customers. | It called on the government to double the winter fuel allowance to £500 for every household and introduce an industry-wide tariff for older customers. |
| The current freezing conditions have been caused by Arctic air sweeping across Scandinavia and over the North Sea. | The current freezing conditions have been caused by Arctic air sweeping across Scandinavia and over the North Sea. |
| But temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago. | But temperatures are still a long way off the record low of -27C (-16.6F) in northern Scotland 14 years ago. |
| Weather pay-outs | Weather pay-outs |
| Millions of pensioners and vulnerable people around the UK have become eligible for cold weather payments. | Millions of pensioners and vulnerable people around the UK have become eligible for cold weather payments. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI will not be going out until it gets warmer or the ice melts Dee Dee, Rhyl Send us your comments and pictures | HAVE YOUR SAYI will not be going out until it gets warmer or the ice melts Dee Dee, Rhyl Send us your comments and pictures |
| The Department for Work and Pensions said cold weather payments had now been triggered at 52 weather stations around the UK since the start of this winter. | The Department for Work and Pensions said cold weather payments had now been triggered at 52 weather stations around the UK since the start of this winter. |
| The payment, which goes to people in receipt of certain benefits - mainly pensioners, severely disabled people and families with a young or severely disabled child - rose this year from £8.50 to £25-a-week for each spell of cold weather. | The payment, which goes to people in receipt of certain benefits - mainly pensioners, severely disabled people and families with a young or severely disabled child - rose this year from £8.50 to £25-a-week for each spell of cold weather. |
| It is paid automatically to those who qualify, including the estimated 2.7m households in receipt of pension credit. | It is paid automatically to those who qualify, including the estimated 2.7m households in receipt of pension credit. |