The AA has urged drivers not to throw boiling hot water over their icy windscreen, but instead brush snow off, scrape the ice and switch on the engine to start the heaters.

“Most people know not to use boiling water on their windscreen, with only 2 per cent of people we asked saying they do this,” the motoring association said, but added that a survey it conducted had found those aged between 18 and 24 were twice as likely to resort to boiling water.

Commuters on their way to work saw snow falling in central London on Tuesday morning. The video below was taken at Farringdon Station:

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season this week.

The amber warning covers the east and north of England, midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber, with yellow alerts coming into place for the South East, South West and London at 8am on Tuesday, lasting until 6pm on Saturday.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UKHSA, said: “This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.

“Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

The latest schools closed in Worcestershire, according to Worcestershire County Council, is below:

• Bayton CE Primary School, Bewdley
• Bredon Hill Academy, Evesham
• Carnforth School, Worcester
• Clifton-upon-Teme Primary School, Martley
• Dyson Perrins CE Academy, Malvern
• Fort Royal Community Primary School, Worcester
• Lindridge St Lawrence’s CE Primary School, Tenbury
• Regency High School, Worcester
• St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, Stourport
• Tenbury High Ormiston Academy, Tenbury
• The Chantry School, Martley
• The Vaynor First School, Redditch

The latest schools closed in Derbyshire, according to Derbyshire County Council, is below:

• Lady Manners School
• Sawley Infant & Nursery School Sawley Junior School
• Aldercar Infant and Nursery School
• Ambergate Primary School
• Flagg Nursery School
• Woodthorpe Primary School
• Corfield C of E Infant School
• Osmaston CE Primary School
• St Giles CE Primary, Killamarsh
• Anthony Gell School
• Speedwell Infant School
• South Darley C.E. Primary School
• School closure
• Coppice Primary & Nursery School
• Queen Elizabeths Grammar School, Ashbourne

National Highways has warned of snow disruption for the North east and North west until 10am on Tuesday – with 10-15cm expected to fall on some motorways.

Meanwhile, a Met Office yellow snow and ice warning is currently in place until 10am on Tuesday covering Northern Ireland.

Another yellow alert is in place until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third lasts until 11am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.

Within affected areas, there is a chance of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.