Big freeze ‘to last until March’

BRITAIN will be gripped by a bitter spell that could run into March, experts say.

Temperatures will tumble this week as icy winds from Eastern Europe blast in.

A sudden warming of air in the stratosphere at the North Pole has disrupted the jet stream, letting in the freezing air, the Met Office said. Spokesman Oli Claydon warned: “We will start getting an easterly wind and cold air moving in from eastern Europe by the time we get to the weekend.”

He said there could be frosty nights and warned that next week even colder air from Russia could sweep the country.

And while there was little risk of snow now, that could change after the weekend.