Milder weather to end cold snap

The cold snap which started the new year is expected to give way to milder weather over the weekend as forecasters predict that the worst is now over.

Temperatures are currently below average for the time of year. In the capital they have dropped to -3C at night and have been as low as -8C at Redhill, Surrey.

Across the rest of Britain temperatures this week fell to -12C in South Wales, -10C in Aberdeen and -9C in Hereford.

Although a rise in temperatures is expected, it will come at a price, warned Roy O'Sullivan, a Met Office forecaster. He said: "Milder weather is moving towards London and the Home Counties from the South-West, so temperatures will start to rise by a couple of degrees.

"However, the changeover is going to be messy.

"This week it has been cold but sunny, but over the weekend it is going to get wet, dull and misty, although the end of the cold snap means that the snow in some parts of the country, such as Scotland, will start to thaw." Temperatures may rise to 10C in Cornwall over the weekend, though Londoners can expect highs of just 5C or 6C, which is average for this time of the year.

But Mr O'Sullivan had some good news for the capital. "Although it will be a damp weekend, it signals the start of better weather. Next week we can expect brighter conditions."

The forecast looks less promising for Greece, suffering some of the worst winter weather in 40 years.