London weather: Capital shivers as temperatures plunge close to freezing after arctic blast

Londoners should brace for sleet and frost as temperatures approach zero thanks to a blast of arctic air, forecasters say.

The Met Office predicted “wintry showers” over the coming days - which it said may fall as hail or sleet across London and the South East.

It comes as snow blankets parts of northern England and Scotland – despite spring supposedly being in full swing meteorologically.

In London temperatures are forecast to barely scrape into double figures, while lows of 0C are possible overnight in leafier areas.

Met Office forecaster Emma Boorman said: "It's going to be cold this week, particularly at the start of the week.

"Winds are coming from the north. The originated in the Arctic and that's why it is colder than we normally expect it to be at this time of year.

"In the South it will be mixture of sunshine and showers but further north these showers will turn increasingly wintry - that's a mixture of rain, some sleet and some snow.”

Additional reporting by PA