This comes only days after the coldest 24 hours of 2008 in Northampton fell on New Year's Eve, when the daytime maximum temperature failed to climb above freezing, struggling from a low of -4.1C, according to statistics from the Pitsford Weather Station.

Motorists woke to frozen windscreens and icy roads, although Northamptonshire Police said there have been no reported problems on the roads in the county.

However, motorists were urged to drive with caution given the freezing conditions that are set to remain throughout the day.

The Met Office has said that over the coming days, people suffering from long-term health problems, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, should take extra care in the cold conditions as they were at an increased risk of becoming unwell, especially if rain falls in such low temperatures, which is expected in Northampton on Wednesday.

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Today and tomorrow are expected to be sunny but very cold.

The warning came as Pitsford Weather Station revealed not only that December 2008 was the coldest since 2001 with an average temperature of just 3.7C, but the whole of 2008 was markedly cooler than previous years, with the highest temperature being 28.7C (84F) compared with temperatures in excess of 30C in 2006.