Freezing temperatures could prevail until later in the week, following the coldest night of winter so far.

Merseyside is included in a Met Office amber warning - the second highest - for icy conditions across most of England until midday on Thursday.

The Met Office website said that large areas of England will experience colder than average conditions in the coming week, with widespread overnight frosts.

After a frosty start, today will be mostly dry and often sunny, although it will remain cold.

The Met Office forecasts another very cold night tonight, with temperatures of minus 3C or 4C, leading to a hard frost and the risk of icy patches.

Tuesday will be another cold and crisp morning, with plenty of sunshine, however cloud will increase from the west through the day.

The outlook for Wednesday to Friday is that it will remain cold, especially overnight.

Met Office forecaster Krista Mitchell said: “It is going to stay cold until at least Thursday - it is not really until Friday that we get some warmer air pushing back in.

“Rain, sleet and snow will push across the area overnight and into Wednesday. This will mostly be on high ground, but I wouldn’t rule it out over lower levels.

“Rain will push in on Friday, bringing some warmer air behind it.”