TEMPERATURES plunged to the lowest of 2014 overnight giving Dorset residents a freezing start to the week.

Thick ice covered cars and the mercury is set to fall further tonight, according to forecasters.

Police in Dorchester have warned of ice and urge drivers to ensure car windows are fully cleared of ice before starting journeys.

Temperatures fell to a frosty -4C at Hurn Airport.

It is not likely to get any warmer than 4C in Dorchester and 5C in Weymouth today.

Temperatures are set to fall to -2C tonight.

One Dorset resident said it is -6C in Sturminster Marshall and that a stream in the garden has frozen over.

Stuart Beasley said it was -6.5C in Bovington early this morning.

But the New Year is likely to see a dramatic rise to 12C with soggy conditions by the end of the week.

In Northern Ireland, temperatures fell to -8.1C overnight, while parts of England dropped to -7.6C, and -5.6C was recorded in Wales, BBC Weather said. Scotland also saw falls to -6.7C.

The Met Office has warned of possible dangers to health and has issued a cold weather alert which will remain in place until midday on Wednesday for northern England and the Midlands.

The lowest temperature overnight was recorded at -8.1C in Katesbridge, County Down, beating Northern Ireland's previous 2014 low of -6.2C. A new 2014 low in England was also recorded, with temperatures plunging to -7.6C in Oxfordshire - colder than the -6.8C recorded earlier this month.

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