Snow and the big freeze this week have raised concerns for the vulnerable. The sub-zero weather is, if anything, set to get worse as we go into the weekend, forecasters have warned. Temperatures plummeted to around -8C overnight over much of England earlier in the week. Increased heating bills have led to worries that the number of deaths could outstrip the 24,000 that occurred last winter. Local Government Association spokesman Cllr David Rogers said councils would be providing hot meals and heaters.
