UK Weather forecast: Parts of Britain to be colder than Moscow as winter cold snap arrives

The Met Office predicts highs of 13C in the south by Wednesday - although Scotland and the north will struggle to escape single figures.

Parts of the UK will be hit by temperatures below freezing this week - with some areas getting even colder than Russiancapital Moscow.

The Met Office says clear skies could lead to temperatures dipping as low as -5C in rural parts of the country.

The wintry weather is expected to hold out between Monday and Wednesday, becoming milder again towards the end of the week.

Forecasters predict a prolonged cold spell between November 26 and December 10, with a high chance of frost throughout this period.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Winds have started to come in from the Arctic and there is a risk of wintry showers in the north settling at 400 metres and falling to lower levels.

"Wednesday will see a more southerly change in wind direction and temperatures in the south should pick back up into double figures before falling again towards the end of the month."

High street betting shop Ladbrokes has recently cut the betting odds of snow on Christmas Day down from 5/6 to 4/5.