UK set for cold snap after weekend of floods

Rescue workers use a boat to navigate the floodwater in the centre of York

People across the UK are facing a week of colder weather, with warnings of frost and snow in the coming days.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice from Sunday, affecting parts of northern and central England, northern Scotland, Northern Ireland and north and mid-Wales.

A cold snap is expected to continue well into next week.

And there are 89 flood warnings in place in England, with floods having damaged hundreds of homes already.

The Environment Agency has also issued 158 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

But the wetter weather is expected to subside as the cold snap - expected to last until Thursday - sweeps across the UK.

A yellow warning for snow and ice will cover northern Scotland from Sunday afternoon through to Wednesday morning, while the ice warning is in place from Sunday evening until 10:00 GMT on Monday.

There is a further warning for snow across parts of south-east England in place from 02:00 to 08:00 on Monday.

Across north and parts of mid-Wales the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice.

BBC Weather forecaster Susan Powell said: "We're swapping the wet, relatively mild weather for colder conditions which will bring the risk of frost and snow.

"While it is drier in the days ahead, there are still numerous flood warnings in place across the UK."

In Somerset, firefighters rescued a mother and her six-month-old baby from a vehicle stuck in flood waters.

People are urged to take care as there may be some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths and some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.

The Met Office said: "A few centimetres of snow are likely at low levels over a given 24-hour period, with the potential for 10-15cm (4-6in) above 200m, especially across parts of the Highlands."

It said the ice would be an additional hazard, especially on Tuesday night. The Met Office also warned of widespread frost by Monday night, with overnight temperatures below 0°C (32F) in many parts of the UK.

"Temperatures could get down to -10°C in sheltered glens, or across high-ground areas of Scotland where there is lying snow," the Met Office said.

The spell of cold weather follows a weekend of flooding.

The floods have submerged parts of York city centre, with the banks of the River Ouse bursting after intense rainfall on Saturday.

Earlier, flood defences, including boarding, were deployed in York city centre.

Rescue workers wade through York after the River Ouse burst its banks

City of York Council said it had taken the measure to keep the area "safe and open" as it urged visitors to plan their journeys in advance.

Drivers are also being warned to expect a surge in potholes after the freezing weather in December.

Several football matches have been cancelled across Devon and Cornwall because of severe weather conditions there.