UK records -17.3C in chilliest January night in 15 years

Altnaharra, in Sutherland, the most northern region of the Highlands, had reached the low by 9pm on Friday

The UK has recorded its chilliest January night in 15 years, as forecasters predicted it could get even colder over the weekend with temperatures falling as low as -20C in some locations.

Altnaharra, in Sutherland, the most northerly region of the Highlands, reached the low of -17.3C by 9pm on Friday. It is the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010, when it dropped below -15C several times at locations across the UK, including -22.3C on 8 January in Altnaharra.