Thousands of people descended on Bournemouth beach this morning to make the most of the sizzling heat, after the mercury rose to a record-breaking 92F (33.3C) at Heathrow.

Met Office experts have revealed their long range predictions and suggest the UK will see a milder winter than usual, and appear to have ruled out snow falling on Christmas Day.

Residents in the Lake District and the Peak District enjoyed Christmas card scenery with fells painted white following wintry conditions that are expected to continue throughout the day.

Strong gusts hit North East England and western Scotland today as ferries remained tied up in port due to the giant waves, meaning some islands could be cut off until the end of the week.

Jet stream winds steering three low pressure systems from Iceland will send temperatures plummeting, prompting the Met Office to warn of flying debris from buildings and on sea fronts.

The Met Office has warned of 'disruptive weather' ahead, caused by low pressure steering in by the jet stream. Heavy snow is set to hit Scotland and northern England amid torrential downpours.

Forecasters have warned that temperatures could drop to -4C in some parts of the UK and several yellow weather warnings are currently in place. Snow is seen this morning in North Lanarkshire.

More than 300 schools were shut for safety reasons today with forecasters warning up to four inches could fall over parts of northern England, Scotland Northern Ireland this week.

Met Office forecasters are warning of up to four inches of snow from the Shetland Islands down to Nottingham and across to Northern Ireland this evening. Pictured: Derbyshire snow today.

Londoners bemoaned the 'pathetic' flakes that fell for just a few minutes this morning before joking that the city would still fall to its knees regardless - paralysed by the smallest bit of bad weather.

Met Office forecasters warned of up to four inches of snow from the Shetland Islands down to Nottingham and across to Northern Ireland overnight.

Snow is expected to hit parts of the UK while temperatures plummet to -8C in mini 'Beast from the East' set to batter lockdown Britain until next week (pictured, snow settling in Co Durham).

I wasn't sure what to write this week. We're all thinking about the spread of a global pandemic, so I see my role as offering some light relief from that

Ah, the good ol' days. But before you get too misty-eyed about your childhood, don't forget what it was really like, says Flic Everett

Forget the 60s-style bungalow. Interior designer and TV presenter Sophie Robinson's annexe for her mum Claire is light, bright and totally modern   

Traybakes are the epitome of easy cooking and they really are a great way to use up leftover ingredients

With its buttery biscuit base, thick bank of caramel and cloud of whipped cream, this feels deliciously indulgent - even when you are sharing it

I used to see a therapist who believed silence was good for me. I would trudge to her house every Wednesday afternoon,

This is a real party piece of a dish - it looks great at the table and packs so much flavour for minimal prep and effort

Taurus 21 APRIL-21 MAY You have played by the rules in recent weeks

This is a particularly gorgeous take on our favourite Sunday roast

I'm 55 and used to be slim and able to wear chic clothes, but that's all changed since I hit the menopause and started taking HRT I just can't find clothes that make me feel comfortable. Any ideas?

From coping during lockdown to her shock split from her film director husband, nothing is off limits for Motherland star .

After decades of letdowns and disappointments, this writer - who wants to remain anonymous - resolved never to see her father again. Then the pandemic struck...

The Forces' Sweetheart DAME VERA LYNN, who's back in the charts aged 103 with her song 'We'll Meet Again', reveals what her wartime hit really means to her and daughter Virginia

Sofia Richie shared a very sultry photo of herself onboard a plane on Monday. The beauty appeared to be heading on a snow adventure ahead of New Year's Eve.

PETE JENSON: The Spanish Super Cup was always the least important trophy in Spain's football calendar. Making it four teams and taking it to Saudi Arabia has only lessened its appeal.

'Total nonsense - this story was out almost a year ago, it was debunked, we rejected it completely,' minister of foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in Davos on Thursday.

Forensics specialists Bill Marczak and Alex Stamos told The Wall Street Journal that the team at FTI should have been able to identify the malicious software that was used in the apparent hack.

MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: The prospects for Saudi Arabia's proposed £340million takeover of Newcastle have not been helped by Mike Ashley receiving financial advice.

Amir Khan is considering retirement after the coronavirus has put boxing on lockdown. The 33-year-old recently welcomed his newborn baby into the world and donated his building to the NHS.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN AND CRAIG HOPE: Sources have disclosed that all the necessary paperwork has been lodged, and that the potential deal now awaits their approval.

Minors will now receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a 'juvenile detention facility'. Pictured: Abdulkareem al-Hawaj was one of the minors executed in 2019.

Nicholas Milton, author of Neville Chamberlain's Legacy, reveals the many sides to the famous British war-time leader. From his boyhood in Birmingham he was a lover of nature.

Sadie Jones is reading My name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. The British novelist revealed that she would take Middlemarch, Nicholas Nickleby or Vanity Fair to a desert island.

Sebastian Barry is currently reading Transcendence: How Humans Evolved Through Fire, Language, Beauty And Time by Gaia Vince. He said he was unable to read until he was eight.

Novelist Annalena McAfee said she would take Palgrave's Golden Treasury on a desert island. She said she is currently reading Self-Portrait, the memoir of the artist Celia Paul.

Sarah J. Maas is currently reading Nalini Singh's A Madness Of Sunshine. The American fantasy novelist revealed that she would take Sally Thorne's The Hating Game to a desert island.

Anne Tyler has recently finished reading Miriam Toews's All My Puny Sorrows. The American novelist revealed that she would take Eudora Welty's The Golden Apples to a desert island.

Tom Standage reveals a series of fascinating little-known facts in a new book. The UK-based deputy editor of The Economist examines facts and figures, including what causes happiness.

Marine scientist and science communicator Ellen Prager explores hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and also climate change in her book Dangerous Earth.

Former paratrooper Dan Jarvis, who is now Labour MP for Barnsley Central, has penned a memoir revealing the horrors of war and the heart-wrenching death of his first wife Caroline.

Darren Coffield has written an oral history of The Colony Room, a shabby and cluttered little space at the top of a dingy staircase in the heart of Soho.

Georgie Codd has written about her journey to overcome a fear of fish. She travels across the world from London to Thailand for a scuba diving course. She eventually swims with a shark.

UK-based author Juliet Rosenfeld has penned a memoir detailing the loss of her partner and loss of faith in the power of psychoanalysis to make soothing sense of trauma.

It takes a while to get into this book because first you have to navigate a prologue and not one but two forewords, the first by the author’s 11-year-old grandson, who reveals that at 4 a.m. without make-up Stephanie Beacham has green skin, witch-like hair and gives him nightmares, muses JOHN HARDING

The children were identified as Wendi Morales-Garcia, 12; Yakelin Morales-Garcia, 11; Gudalupe Morales-Garcia, 8; Johnathan Garcia-Garcia, 4; and Nattaly Garcia-Garcia, 3.

Highway construction worker Claude Guezodje, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was one of two lottery players in the country who won the $2million Mega Millions prize on April 21.

Mary Hagen Roberts, 64, penned an essay about how her daughter Laura Hagen Hoffman, 33, died just a day after learning her cancer had spread to her lungs.

Victoria Beckham looked sensational as she donned a camel blouse over a turtleneck jumper as she unveiled the effects of her moisturiser on Friday.