Britons have been warned of an “extreme freeze” overnight as the Met Office said temperatures could plunge even further than Tuesday’s 10-year low. Temperatures fell to minus 17.

The coldest night of the winter so far in the UK has been recorded as -16. 7C in the Scottish Highlands, as snow and ice continue to cause disruption in some regions.

It is “bitterly cold” as strong easterly winds from Ukraine and the Black Sea area are spilling across the UK on Sunday, the Met Office said.

Heavy snow is set to bring disruption to south-east England and East Anglia as bitterly cold winds grip much of the nation.

Bouts of “significant disruptive snowfall” are set to hit the South East of the UK, with Storm Darcy also set to bring gale force winds to parts of England, forecasters said.