FREEZING temperatures are set to replace heavy rain and flooding as Oxford faces treacherous icy conditions on its soaked roads.

Temperatures are predicted to plummet to below zero again tonight and the Met Office has issued an ice warning for the county.

Oxfordshire County Council has urged drivers to take care as freezing conditions coupled with wet roads could cause problems.

Council gritters are being prepared, while emergency crews work desperately to clear flooded areas before ice starts to form.

Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s deputy leader, said the gritters were due to go out last night.

He said: “With so much standing water around, there’s obviously a chance of some frozen surfaces. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians need to be very aware and take great care.

“Judgement calls will be made each night, as is the case every night through the winter, on whether the gritters need to go out.

“However, given the amount of water about, there may still be icy patches on gritted roads and there are obviously still the smaller roads where people will need to be very cautious and drive with real care.”

Despite no rainfall yesterday, the effects of the previous six days’ flooding continued to take its toll on Oxfordshire.

Six vulnerable residents were evacuated from Osney Court yesterday as groundwater levels caused rivers to rise and burst banks.

River levels on the Thames around Oxford remained high yesterday, but experts predicted they had reached their peak.

Pumps were deployed at Duke Street and Bridge Street in Oxford.

A spokesman for the county council last night said it was unable to say whether Abingdon Road, which has remained closed since Tuesday morning, would be reopened today.

However, the Environment Agency incident response unit was relocated from the road to the Said Business School, next to Oxford train station.

Seacourt Park-and-Ride was also closed due to flooding.

Temporary flood barriers remained in place overnight at Vicarage Lane, South Oxford and at Osney Island.

Riverside dwellers in Abingdon remained vigilant last night as the Thames hovered on the brink of bursting its banks.

While the River Ock had begun to recede yesterday, the Thames had just begun to make inroads on the town, and left surface water on Thames Street. By the evening it had begun to subside.

Town councillor Samantha Bowring said: “The Thames is the highest I have ever seen it, higher than in 2007.”

She said she thought the waters could still peak today, as groundwater percolated through the soil.

Anna Kowalska, of the Nag’s Head pub, said the Thames had stayed at the same height overnight, and was hoping the worst was over.

Sandbags were still made available by Vale of White Horse District Council at the Cattle Market car park and B&Q.

In Witney, the situation was the same, with river levels going down.

Jenny Marsh, 71, of Riverside Gardens, said: “The river did come right up to the house, but has gone down again.”

If any at-risk properties do not have sandbags they are advised to call 08453 101111. If anyone’s life is in danger they should phone 999.