Shoppers have been panic buying food and winter woollies to prepare for the cold snap.

Asda revealed ski-wear sales are up by 300 per cent on last week and winter wear has been selling at record levels, with 18,000 extra jumpers and cardigans ploughed into stores. Forty five per cent more duvets and 50 per cent more hot water bottles have been sold over the weekend.

Sales of Asda electric blankets rose by 37 per cent and sales of de-icer rose by 300 per cent.

Comfort foods such as spotted dick, jam roly poly and toad-in-the-hole have also increased.

Meanwhile the Highways Agency remains on standby for severe winter weather conditions this week.

The big chill is expected to hit Oxfordshire tomorrow with temperatures barely rising above freezing and the possibility of snow flurries.