PEOPLE across Notts woke to freezing temperatures across Notts today – but forecasters say it's still too early to say whether there'll be a white Christmas.
Temperatures dipped to -5.5°C in Watnall in the early hours of yesterday morning , while the mercury also dropped to -4.8°C in Sutton Bonington, and -3.4°C at Gringley on The Hill, near Retford.
The coldest place in England was in Oxfordshire at -9°C, while parts of Scotland recorded temperatures as low as -12°C.
Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers said temperatures reached a high of -1°C at lunchtime yesterday, but a cloudy night meant they were expected to be around 2°C this morning.
Ms Chivers said: "Throughout the week there have been cold days and nights, but milder wind is coming in from the southwest.
"We're expecting a cloudy and misty start to Friday with the wind picking up and cloud moving in from the south. Lunchtime will be downright wet, with between 10mm and 15mm of rain expected.
"In the early part of the night it will be cold, but temperatures will be high enough so there is no icing."
Temperatures are set to rise further still tomorrow, reaching 8 degrees by the time Notts County host Brentford at Meadow Lane at 3pm.
Sunday will also have sunny intervals and similar temperatures.
As for Christmas, Ms Chivers said: "We cannot say what it will be like on Christmas Day yet. It looks like wind from the west is going to be with us with bands of rain from time to time."
Farmer Chris Cockayne said the frost of recent days, combined with last month's heavy rain, had affected his sugar beet crops.
Mr Cockayne, 68, who runs Top Brackendale Farm in Cropwell Bishop with his brother Ian, said: "We've been able to do some planting work in the frost before it gets too frozen, but other than that we are way behind with lifting out sugar beet.
"We have normally done our lifting by now, but we have still got about two-thirds of our 120 acres of sugar beet in the ground. That's because of the weather."
Mr Cockayne was also one of around 150 people who signed up to be a snow warden for Notts County Council last year.
He was called out in February to help stranded motorists on minor roads between the A52 at Saxondale and the Hickling estate.
This year he is on standby to plough roads between East Bridgford and Kneeton, and Car Colston and Flintham.
Mr Cockayne said: "We're prepared for it if the snow comes."
Notts County Council said it had been business despite the freeze, with all Meal at Home services having been delivered on time to around 17,000 residents in recent days.
Councillor Kevin Rostance, Chairman of Notts County Council's Adult Social Care and Health Committee, said: "Many of our services such as Meals at Home and home care are a vital lifeline for older people and people with disabilities in the county.
"The Council has 4x4s on standby to help move people or provide vital services if weather conditions are particularly challenging to ensure vulnerable people are given the assistance they need.
"We also encourage local people to keep an eye out during the winter months to make sure elderly or vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and well."
For the latest forecast, check our weather channel.