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The cold spell is set to continue until the weekend, with temperatures reaching minus 7.5C (19F) last night.

More snow is set to fall over the weekend with the Met Office issuing several new weather warnings. 

A yellow warning for ice with sleet or snow showers is in place for most of Scotland, the East and West Midlands, the east, northeast and northwest of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Yorkshire until Thursday morning.

A second yellow weather warning for frequent snow showers and possible hail is in place in many parts of north and west Scotland until midday on Thursday.

Up to 10cm of snow is forecast in some parts of northwest Scotland, with higher ground seeing up to 20cm, the Met Office said.

Parts of southwest England have also received a separate yellow warning for snow between 5am and 3pm on Thursday, with up to 10cm predicted in higher parts of Dartmoor.

Heavy snow is also expected on Saturday followed by a "rapid thaw" and rain on Saturday night in northeast and northwest England, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, and much of Scotland.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for this weather event and said there is a chance floodwater could cause danger to life, and result in travel disruption and some rural communities to be cut off.

New yellow warnings for rain have also been published over the weekend for southwest England and Wales.

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Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop said: "A deep area of low pressure is expected to bring a spell of prolonged and, at times, heavy rainfall across a large part of the UK this weekend.

"Across southwest England, rain is expected to develop during Saturday morning with heavier rain likely later in the day and overnight into early Sunday morning.

"Fifty to 75mm of rain is expected to fall fairly widely during this time with a chance that some places over Dartmoor could see 100 to 125mm. Strong southerly winds will accompany the heavy rain and may locally exacerbate impacts."

A Met Office spokesperson added on Wednesday morning: "Rain, snow and ice continue to be potential hazards through this week as an Arctic air mass continues to influence the UK's weather, bringing potential ongoing disruption for some.

"It will be feeling very cold for most, with daytime temperatures in the low single figures, with a wind chill meaning it will be feeling even cooler." of freezing conditions.

The lowest temperature recorded on Tuesday night was minus 7.5C (19F) in Warcop, Cumbria.

The RAC said it has seen a sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns as drivers' batteries failed on Wednesday morning due to cold weather.

The AA has also predicted "a major increase in workload" due to sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice, and it urged drivers to check forecasts before travelling and to do so with "extreme caution" in the hardest-hit areas.

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis called on motorists to properly de-ice vehicles and ensure the entire windscreen is clear.

The UK Health Security Agency has also issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly.