TEMPERATURES in the UK fell to -7.9 degrees Celsius overnight as an Arctic blast swept across the country, with warnings of heavy snow and significant disruption over the weekend.
Benson in Oxfordshire recorded the coldest temperature, followed by Shap in Cumbria at -7.5 degrees Celsius and Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway at -6.4 degrees Celsius.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in effect for most of the UK from Saturday to Monday, while amber cold weather health alerts cover England.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised healthcare providers to monitor vulnerable individuals and ensure they have access to support.
BBC Weather predicts 20-40cm of snow in parts of northern England and southern Scotland from late Saturday into Monday.
Snow showers in north-east Scotland are expected to bring up to 10cm of snow on high ground. Temperatures in towns and cities will remain below freezing overnight, with rural areas experiencing even colder conditions. Freezing fog is possible in the Midlands and East Anglia.
Health secretary Wes Streeting advised people to stay warm, describing it as “a weekend to turn the heating on.”
Caroline Abrahams of Age UK expressed concern about the impact of reduced winter fuel payments, urging older people to prioritise staying warm and seek support from local councils or energy companies if needed.
No new cold weather payment triggers have been reported by the Department for Work and Pensions. The payments of £25 are issued to eligible households when temperatures remain at or below 0 degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days.
Conditions may ease by Sunday evening, with temperatures reaching 13 degrees Celsius in London, though northern areas like Aberdeen could remain near freezing.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)