A yellow cold health alert has been issued for Southampton with temperatures set to plummet throughout this week.

The warning, from the UK Health and Security Agency, came into force across the South East from 10am on Monday and lasts until 6pm on Saturday.

The Met Office has warned the significantly colder temperatures – which are forecast to fall to as low as -1°C on Thursday morning – could cause significant impacts across health and social care services.

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A spokesperson for the UKHSA said: “The forecast weather is likely to have impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people.

“There could be greater risk to life of vulnerable people.”

The colder temperatures are set to be accompanied by spells of rain throughout the start of the week before the skies become clearer and temperatures drop below 7°C by Friday.

Temperatures will increase to as high as 12°C on Saturday, with the weekend expected to be warmer.