The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather warning for England as temperatures plummet.
It has advised people with pre-existing medical conditions or over the age of 65 to heat their home to at least 18°C.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
Forecasters warn that the cold weather across England will last from 9am on Monday until Friday morning.
The Met Office is warning that all regions of England will continue to experience cold weather from 9am on Wednesday 14 December to midday on Sunday 18 December.
It follows warnings that a freezing Arctic blast will bring heavy snow, ice and -10C temperatures this week.
The icy weather is predicted to hit the North, the Midlands and central and eastern parts of England first.
The Met Office described the forecast for snow as on a "knife’s edge" with a 70 per cent probability of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy flurries.
London, the South, and South West are all subject to the cold weather alert, which encourages residents to remain vigilant of the conditions. The Environment Agency has announced 88 severe flood warnings and 158 flood alerts, potentially with “danger to life”.
It warned: "Local ground water flooding is probable in south England for the next five days. Land, roads and some properties could flood and there could be travel disruption."
Jason Kelly, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Cold, icy and sometimes snowy conditions are in the forecast this week with the UK seeing more of a north-westerly regime, with temperatures well below average for the time of year. Wintry showers are likely at points through the week in the north of England.
“Warnings have been issued and ice is likely to be a hazard for much of the week with some tricky travel conditions possible. Maximum temperatures will largely only reach the low single figures with temperatures below freezing through most nights this week.”
The wintry weather could push south on Monday, reaching East Anglia, he added.
There will be “lots of clear blue skies” by late Monday, but cold temperatures will remain, with “absolute highs of 6C or 7C” while many places will be “several degrees colder than that”.
He added: “Lots of places will be low single figures, some places will stay below freezing today.”
He said Monday night is likely to be widely “slightly colder” than the night before, possibly bringing lows of minus 10C or minus 11C.
