UK warnings of ice and snow with flood chaos due to continue

Met Office issues weather alert around Greater London for Monday, with warnings for rest of the week in other parts

A snow flurry in Lenham, Kent. AP

Taking photos of falling snow in Covent Garden, central London. PA

Motorists driving through snowfall on the M20 near Maidstone. PA

Cars parked in heavy snow in Kent. PA

Floodwater surrounds an electricity grid substation in Gloucester. PA

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks at flood defences in Oxford. Getty Images

A barge on its side in the Soar river after being swept away in flooding in the aftermath of Storm Henk. Reuters

A boat is half-submerged in the flooded Thames in Oxford. AP

The UK is bracing itself for a week of extreme cold after weather warnings were issued on Monday.

The Met Office issued a warning for ice across southern England and South Wales, which will last for 12 hours from 3pm on Monday.

Snow fell in parts of London, Kent, Co Durham and Cumbria on Monday as temperatures plummeted.

Temperatures dipped to minus 8°C at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands and the mercury is expected to be lower than average for the time of year for much of the week.

Southern parts of the UK are set for "ice and small amounts of snow", which could cause icy patches on some roads and lead people to fall on slippery surfaces.

Meanwhile, floods are still expected to affect some regions amid high water levels.

A health alert due to the cold weather will remain for London and other parts of northern and eastern England throughout the week.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said the sudden change in conditions is due to cold air from the north and east replacing wet westerly air.

He added clear conditions and some sunny spells were expected, while 1cm-2cm of snow could fall on some higher ground such as Dartmoor.

"That theme continues for much of the week," Mr Dixon said.

"Temperatures through the week will remain below average for this time of year.

"If you do have to travel in icy conditions, plan your route, check for delays and road closures.

"If you are driving ... look out for potential hazards and keep your speed down. Using a higher gear may be more appropriate."

Many parts of the country are only just dealing with the aftermath of Storm Henk, which caused widespread flooding and two deaths, with more than 170 flood warnings still in place.

The Environment Agency estimated more than 1,800 properties were flooded.

Countries across Europe are dealing with devastating floods from heavy rain in the past week, while an Arctic blast has led to extreme cold in Scandinavia.