'Keep off the ice' warning as temperatures plunge to -12C

TEMPERATURES plunged to -12C across the South-East on the coldest night of Britain's big freeze.

The icy conditions - which are worst in London and the South - are set to continue until Sunday, weather forecasters said today.

It prompted a warning for the public to stay off frozen lakes and followed at least one episode of parents taking a child for a walk on the ice at a pond in east London.

The lowest temperatures last night were in Chesham in Buckinghamshire and Benson in Oxfordshire, both close to -12C. Large parts of the South saw temperatures fall to -9C and -10C.

Forecasters said today's daytime temperature should edge up a little to about 3C but that the South will remain colder than the North.

Nikki Berry, a forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There is quite a bit more cloud around which will help raise temperatures. The northern half of the UK is looking much warmer, 1C to 3C minimum. In the South we will still be looking at -1C to -4C overnight, which is not as cold as it has been."

The freezing conditions, caused by Arctic air sweeping across Scandinavia and over the North Sea, have led to record breakdowns on the roads.

The Met Office has issued warnings of icy roads in Kent as well as in eastern Northern Ireland and the North-West. The RAC and AA estimate receiving 50,000 call-outs in the past two days with the highest number of breakdowns recorded in London and around Bristol, Bournemouth and Birmingham.

The temptation to walk on frozen lakes has proved too much for some families, leading to accusations parents are putting children's lives at risk. A couple were photographed taking their toddler for a walk on a frozen rowing lake in Epping Forest, close to Whipps Cross Hospital.

One person who saw them said: "Motorists driving past the lake were so shocked they slowed down and shouted at the couple to get off the ice. One ambulance driver was screaming at them, 'get him off the ice you idiots, you will kill him.'

"Another family took a few tentative steps onto the ice before turning back." The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said the public should stay off the ice.

Spokesman Carl Christopher said: "People should not go on the ice. Certainly don't take your kids on the ice. You can never tell what weight it's going to hold, by the time you do it is too late."

More than 20 people have drowned in Britain in the last 10 years by falling through ice. Many others have had to be rescued and revived, he said.

After strolling onto the ice the family played around on two rowing boats that have been left marooned in the middle of the iced lake. Despite the little boy falling over several times, they seem to have made it off the ice in one piece.

Mr Christopher added: "More than half of all ice-related drownings have involved rescue attempts by other people, who try and save others through goodwill. So it is not necessarily just yourself you are putting at risk."