Christmas Day will be coldest ever with mercury plummeting to MINUS 12... and snow is set to return on Boxing Day

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Snow joke: A mob of deer stand in a snow-covered field in Northern Ireland as their cousins prepared for last night's journey across the world towing Santa's sled


Fresh snowfalls to bring more misery to millions across Britain

Train companies' amended timetables cause transport chaos

London Underground to stage strike on Boxing Day

Traditional family walks to help the turkey go down could be off the cards this year as December 25 is set to be the coldest Christmas ever.


The mercury plummeted to -5.9C in Glenlivet, Scotland, in 1996, but the Met Office has now warned freezing conditions could see this record smashed today, with temperatures plunging as low as -12C.

And just as people will be thinking about heading home on Boxing Day, more snow will fall in the afternoon across England and Scotland bringing new misery to those who want to travel.

Weather forecasters say they are expecting 'heavy and prolonged snowfall' in some parts of the country, particularly from the Midlands up to southern and central parts of Scotland.

That will continue throughout Monday when it will head towards the South East and it will keep falling into Tuesday morning.


The rare sight of a partially frozen lake in Stithians, Cornwall


The bleak forecasts came as rail passengers making a getaway yesterday faced reduced services along with the prospect of a similarly miserable return tomorrow which promises a string of strikes.

Meanwhile, motorists had to contend with icy roads and air passengers were beset by more delays and cancellations.

A number of train companies ran amended timetables, with some services axed on the main London to Scotland routes up the east and west coast.


The sun setting over the frozen river Lagan in Belfast last night


To add to the misery, union militants announced cynically-timed strikes designed to hit the post-Christmas high street sales. They involve London Underground workers demanding ‘triple time’ bonuses, Northern Rail, which serves the North East, and Arriva Trains Wales.

And as travellers endured yet another bitterly cold morning, weathermen said that should the icy weather continue, the UK could be heading for its coldest December since 1890.


Pleasure boats are unable to move after the River Ouse in York froze


Christmas Day may also see lower temperatures than ever before with lows of between -8C and -12C in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland at around 8am.

Scotland is also one of the only places likely to see snow today, along with parts of north east England.

Met Office forecaster Rebekah Sherwin said : 'We are expecting another very cold day.
'The lowest daytime temperatures are going to be early in the morning, at about 7am or 8am.

'Tonight has the potential to be the coldest night of this winter so far and it is possible that tomorrow will be the coldest day.


Three French Hens: Lily-Ann French, 4, helps keep her chickens warm with jumpers knitted by a local WI woman in Northamptonshire


Wrapping up: Shoppers on Oxford Street on Christmas Eve do what they can to keep warm


British Airways was operating all its long-haul flights at Heathrow airport as well as the vast majority of short-haul services. Where possible, BA flew larger long-haul aircraft to European cities yesterday to increase its seat capacity. The airline was also hiring extra aircraft to help fly as many passengers as possible.

The airline said: 'In an attempt to free up even more seats, we are continuing to encourage customers who hold bookings to or from Heathrow up until the end of New Year's Eve to either rebook for a later date or claim a full refund if their journey is not essential.'

Away from Heathrow, other UK airports had to cancel some short-haul flights due to the continuing bad weather in Europe.

At Birmingham airport, flights to and from Brussels and Paris were affected, while Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.
Elsewhere, parts of Europe were also brought to a standstill by the wintry weather.


Airport employees clear snow from the runway at the airport in the western German city of Dusseldorf


source: dailymail