UK braced for return of big chill

Forecasters have warned the big chill is back after a weekend reprieve from the bitterly cold weather.

Sunny spells graced many parts of the UK on Sunday, giving the snow a chance to thaw, and temperatures even rose to a comparatively balmy 7.7C in Chivenor, north Devon.

However, forecasters warned that sub-zero temperatures will be back across Britain overnight – and could last for most of the week.

More snowfall is also expected in Scotland and northern England.

“A band of snow is moving south across Scotland overnight and some western areas could see several centimetres fall,” said Tom Tobler, forecaster for MeteoGroup. “On Monday, it will slowly move into northern England.

Speaking about Sunday night and the early hours of Monday, he added: “Overnight it will be well below zero in most areas. Some coastal spots will just stay just above zero but it is going to be very cold across all of Britain. Parts of eastern England, Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire could reach -12C, maybe even lower than that.

“It will be cold on Monday and it will stay cold for most of the week.”

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland for Monday. It says that people in Orkney and Shetland should be prepared for heavy snow and icy roads while Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar and Northern Ireland were warned of widespread ice on the road networks.

At least seven people have died during the bleak weather, many in road accidents amid the dangerous condit