The New Year chiller: Snow and sub-zero temperatures on the way by end of the week

By the end of the week temperatures in many places will be below zero and large areas will be covered in a blanket of snow, forecasters warned yesterday.

Robin Downton, of the Met Office, said: "The weather is going to turn really cold during Wednesday and by Thursday it will feel jolly cold throughout the whole of the country apart from the very far West and South West.

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By the end of the week parts of England could be covered in a blanket of snow

"There could well be snow in the East and North of England and eastern Scotland. There is a significant risk of a covering of snow.

"Thursday daytime temperatures will only be a degree or so above zero and it could be just below zero overnight.

"Going into Thursday and Friday, there could be snow in areas further west, including the Midlands, on higher ground."

Revellers heading out to see in the New Year tonight will enjoy mostly dry weather in England and Wales but those in central and southern Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect rain, he added.

The bleak predictions came as it emerged that, with December almost over, it is now certain that 2007 will have been Britain's second hottest year of all time.

The average temperature of 49.3F was only a fraction lower than last year's all-time record of 51.5F.

The next warmest year was 2003 which had an average of 49.1F.

Dave Britton, of the Met Office, added: "Even though summer was very wet, it was still relatively warm.

"The spring was very mild and dry and October and November were pretty mild and December looks likely to be the same."

He added: "The six warmest years on the record, which dates back to 1914, are the last six years.

"That suggests that climate change is happening and it is affecting the UK with warmer temperatures in the country.

"It is difficult to attribute one warm year to climate change but, when you see six years in close succession, that suggests a trend."