UK weather: 40 flights cancelled at Heathrow Airport as freezing fog sparks Met Office warning for travel delays

FREEZING fog has reportedly seen 40 flights cancelled at Heathrow Airport as temperatures plunge to -8C.

The icy blast has sparked a Met Office weather warning as Brits brace for tricky conditions and travel delays.

Heathrow confirmed that some cancellations were expected but are yet to release a number, while reports from several outlets suggested that around 40 flights would be grounded.

Biting cold is set to see most of the country endure a deep freeze as the mercury drops.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for fog across a large part of central and southern England and stretching up into some areas of the North.

They warn: "Freezing fog will lead to difficult driving conditions and could cause travel delays in some areas on Monday."

Much of , Oxford and Nottingham is covered by the warning, which reaches as far north as .

Other major airports, including Luton and Robin Hood Doncaster-Sheffield, fall within the warning area.

Temperatures of -8C were recorded at Heathrow this morning and it is expected to hover around freezing into tonight and tomorrow.

This was the airports coldest night since 2010 and its coldest January night since 1987.

Meanwhile, outside of the warning area, much of the rest of the UK is set to see some mixed weather.

The Met's forecast for tonight predicts a return of the freezing fog, leading into a more unsettled outlook in the coming days.

For tomorrow they predict: "Cloud and occasional rain in the northwest. Bright and very mild in the northeast.

"Fog patches slow to clear over central and southern areas, else dry with some sunshine."