ENGLAND'S lowest temperature of the year - a bracing -7.6degC - was recorded in Oxfordshire overnight.

Unsurprisingly, the record low was at Benson in South Oxfordshire. At Brize Norton it was -4.9degC  and in South Newington it was - 5.1degC.

Met Office forecaster Calum MacColl said the icy temperatures were due to a band of high pressure containing air of polar origins.

He said: “It was a classic winter's night last night with clear skies and light winds leading to those frosty and icy patches in rural areas.”

He said today will be a fine winter's day with clear skies and plenty of sunshine but temperatures will fall again after dusk leading to widespread frost overnight.

Icy conditions on the roads have been causing problems for drivers this morning and there has been disruption on the A420 at Kingston Bagpuize, at the junction with the A415.

Tuesday is expected to be a bright day but New Year’s Eve could see cloudy skies with patches of rain moving in from Northern Ireland and Scotland.

A "yellow" cold weather alert has been put out for the area covering the county, meaning there is a 60 per cent chance of "severe" cold weather.

Oxford is expected to reach a high of 4C at about 2pm today, tailing off to lows of -1C come midnight.

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