Scotland facing freezing temperatures as ice warning is issued

Temperatures across the UK are expected to plummet this weekend with weather warnings for ice issued.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning as parts of Scotland, the north-east of England, and in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

Some areas of Scotland could see temperatures fall as far as minus 10C (14F), which is much colder than average for the time of year.

People are being urged to stock up on medicines, check on vulnerable or elderly neighbours and get the flu jab.

A spokesman for NHS England said: ''Freezing conditions are forecast in some areas and evidence shows that the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other serious breathing problems increases as temperatures plummet.''

Their comments come after it emerged that tens of thousands of planned operations could be delayed for at least a month as the NHS struggles with mounting winter pressures.

The Met Office said the weekend will be drier and brighter than earlier in the week when high winds swept across the country.

Wind warnings were put in place in England and Wales on Thursday, with gusts as high as 77mph recorded in High Bradfield, Yorkshire.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes gave odds of 5/4 that this will be the coldest January on record.