UK weather latest: Britain 'to be hit by more sub-zero temperatures' after widespread frost and recording of -4.9C

'It will become less cold over the coming days, before another, more prolonged, cold spell into next weekend'

Large swathes of the UK woke up to frost this morning after a night of sub-zero temperatures – and more freezing weather is on the way.

Forecasters had predicted -7C, which would have made it the coldest night of the autumn so far, but in the end the coldest it got was -4.9C, which was recorded at Benson in Oxfordshire.

It dropped as far as -3C across parts of Gloucestershire, Scotland and mid-Wales.

Meterologists are now saying things will warm up slightly before becoming extremely cold again.

Some snow is forecast, but meteorologist Alex Burkill told The Independent that apart from “a few slushy deposits” in parts of Scotland, most of the snow and sleet in the next few days will hit the mountainous regions of the country.

There may also be some snow over the highest ground in England, but it will most likely not settle, and the weather will “enter a milder spell” in the coming week, he said.

He added: “Towards the end of the week on Friday and the weekend, things [will] turn a bit colder, [and there is a] risk of wintry showers again in Scotland."

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: "We've had three short cold snaps over the past three weekends but it will become less cold over the coming days, before another, more prolonged, cold spell into next weekend."

The coldest November temperature on record in the UK is -23C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on 14 November 1919.