Weather: Below zero temperatures expected on Sunday

There were frosty scenes in Belfast on Friday

Temperatures are expected to drop below zero and down to -4/-5C inland across Northern Ireland on Sunday night.

The Met Office has cancelled a weather warning and coastal areas should not be quite as cold.

Meanwhile, a Status Orange warning, the second highest level of warning, has been issued across the Republic of Ireland for Sunday night.

The Irish National Emergency Coordination group is to meet on Sunday morning to assess the weather's impact.

The Irish weather service, Met Éireann, is forecasting temperatures of -5C. Severe frost, ice, and freezing fog is expected.

The group will decide what action might need to be taken by the emergency services, transport operators and local authorities.

It will also decide if it should issue public safety advice.

All of the main Irish government departments will be represented at the meeting.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, freezing weather led to the cancellation of some sporting fixtures in Northern Ireland.

It was cold enough for Oak Lake near Gortin in the Sperrin Mountains to freeze over

It also led to dozens of flight cancellations and delays at Dublin Airport and disruption at many UK airports.

Saturday's Irish Premiership contest between Glentoran and Glenavon was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Sunday's Ulster Club Final between Kilcoo and Glen is also in jeopardy with freezing temperatures forecast on Saturday night.

It follows the postponement of the Intermediate Football Championship Final on Saturday at Páirc Esler due to a frozen pitch.

In the Republic of Ireland, racing at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare was cancelled due to snow, ice and freezing conditions.

Freezing overnight conditions across Ireland are expected to last into next weekend, at least.

Temperatures by day will struggle to get several degrees above zero in most places.

Met Éireann is expecting potential hazardous driving conditions.

Eight-year-old Phoebe Dickson in Carryduff has made her first and tiniest snowman of the season

The drop in temperature has triggered the first of this winter's cold weather payments in Northern Ireland.

They are paid to people living in areas where the average temperature is recorded or forecast to be 0C or below for seven consecutive days.

Only those who qualify and live in these postcode areas will receive the £25 payment:

• BT24

• BT25

• BT26

• BT30

• BT31

• BT32

• BT33

• BT34

Payments will be made automatically by the 14 December and there is no need to make a claim.