Cold weather payments kick in with areas of southern England to hit minus 9ºC

UK Health Security Agency extends level-three cold weather alert until 9am on Friday

A road warning sign on the A82 through Glencoe, Scotland, last week. PA

With the cold snap set to last until the end of the week, parts of southern England will hit minus 9ºC in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Freezing fog has also been forecast in some areas for Tuesday morning, said the Meteorological Office.

The UK Health Security Agency extended a level-three cold weather alert until 9am on Friday, with people urged to keep warm and check in on family and friends who may be more vulnerable.

As temperatures plunged to minus 9.5ºC in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Sunday night, it was confirmed hundreds of households in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments.

They are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.

It goes to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0ºC or lower over seven consecutive days.

Payments will be made to homes across north-east England, Cumbria, west Wales and Oxfordshire.

Snow blankets the UK, with more wintry weather to come - in pictures

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has 34 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected and action to prevent it should take place.

“We’ve got rather cloudy, damp but mild weather across Northern Ireland, Scotland and far north-west areas of England on Tuesday,," Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said.

"Temperatures could get up to 12ºC or 13ºC across Aberdeenshire way.

“Further south across the rest of England and Wales we’re still under the colder conditions, so there could be some fog again which will be quite slow to clear, so a very similar start to Monday.

“When there is cloud it’s going to feel pretty cold, but in the sunshine, although it will be cold, the sun will help negate the cold a little bit. So all in all, a pretty similar day to Monday.

“Going into Wednesday, we do see a change as the day goes on.

"We’ve got a cold front coming down from the north so that will move across Scotland and Northern Ireland during the morning and then gradually move across England and Wales during the afternoon.

“There will be some rain with it, turning brighter after it moves in, and the front will then pass on Thursday.

“Tuesday morning will probably be the coldest, with some parts of southern England getting down to minus 9ºC, hovering around minus 7ºC in the early hours of Wednesday."

Cold weather in the UK – in pictures

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also issued a high air pollution alert for the capital for Tuesday.

“We know how dangerous toxic air is for Londoners. That’s why I’m doing everything in my power to tackle it," Mr Khan said.

"On Tuesday, alongside the extreme cold temperatures we’ve been experiencing, we are also expecting high levels of air pollution.

“Following the latest forecast from Imperial College London, I am issuing a ‘high’ air pollution alert.

"This shows once again why it’s so vital that we expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide to reduce toxic air pollution in our city.

“We all need to be careful over the next few days. I’m urging Londoners to look after each other by choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport where possible, avoiding unnecessary car journeys, stopping engine idling and not burning garden waste, all of which contributes to high levels of pollution.

“This is particularly important in order to protect those who are more vulnerable to high pollution.”