8 Jan, 2010, UK

The UK has suffered its coldest night of winter so far with the temperatures plummeting to -22.3C in a village in the Sutherland in the Highlands. The Overnight temperatures of -10C were widespread, leaving commuters again the battling icy roads and the pavements amid stretched road salt supplies. Many schools remained shutting with rail and air travel again hit by delays. The Fresh snow is falling in the eastern England.

The weekend could be colder as another week of Arctic conditions is forecast. The Exams watchdog Ofqual said that in cases where candidates would not have a second chance to sit papers in the summer, applications could be made for special consideration.

The Milk deliveries have also been disrupted, with tankers struggling to reach dairy farms. Some farmers have had to dump supplies as few have storage facilities to hold more than a day’s stock. Easy jet has cancelled about 30 flights at airports including Gatwick, Liverpool, Belfast and Stansted, while Norwich Airport has been closed.

Supplies of road grit are close to running out in some areas, and many types of council are restricting gritting to just major roads. Two lanes of the A1 (M) in County Durham had to be shut on Friday morning after a lorry jackknifed near Carville.