A yellow cold health warning has been issued as temperatures are set to plummet below freezing.

The alert comes into force across Kent from 9am today (February 7) and will be in place until 9am on Tuesday (February 11).

This means the weather is likely to lead to an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and pose a greater risk of life to those individuals.

Yellow cold health alerts have also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.

As we head into the weekend, the Met Office said high pressure across the country will bring easterly winds and low temperatures and increase the risk of snow and ice.

A spokesman for the government agency, Stephen Dixon, added: “What we are seeing with the UK’s weather over the next few days is the influence of high pressure and the development of south-easterly airflow which will see temperatures drop for many.

“We could see temperatures drop as low as minus 7C in rural parts of Scotland from Friday into the weekend.

“Further south we’re still likely to see through the weekend sub-zero temperatures.

“Rural parts of southern Wales could reach minus 4C from Friday overnight into the weekend.”

Despite this, he said day-time temperatures will only be “slightly below” the average maximum for February, which is 7C.

Mr Dixon added: “February has started warmer than average, so it is going to be a return to more typical February averages, albeit a bit colder.

“From Friday, there is a chance of some snow drifting into parts of the south of England and south Wales, however, this is relatively short-lived, and it is not expected to be impactful at the moment.”

Kent is likely to see rain across the weekend with drier conditions expected later next week.