Warning as temperatures set to plummet

Churchgoers in the West Midlands making their way to Midnight Mass tonight will be forced to brave record low temperatures amid warnings of more snow to come.

Temperatures in the region will plunge to a low -18C (-0.4F), the lowest recorded this winter which has been the most severe for almost a century.

They will hover between -1C (30F) and -5C (23F) today and on Christmas Day before again plummeting to -18C on Christmas night. Snow and sleet showers are set to return to the region on Boxing Day and Monday.

Councils throughout the West Midlands and Staffordshire were continuing their fight to keep traffic moving on the roads, with gritters on standby for any fresh problems.

Meanwhile council bosses in Walsall have vowed to work "extra hard" to clear the borough's bin collections backlog.

Residents will be allowed to leave three extra bags out for collection.

Yesterday collections in Walsall were suspended completely as ice and snow made it too dangerous for lorries to head out. On Wednesday crews had been recalled after completing just a fifth of their rounds.

Environment chief Anthony Harris today said: "Our staff are only taking Christmas Day and Boxing Day off.

"People will be able to leave three extra bin bags of household waste on their next scheduled day.

"They'll also be able to leave extra recycling in clear plastic bags or cardboard boxes on their next scheduled recycling day."

The weather has hit festivities.

Almost half the scheduled Santa Special steam trains at the Severn Valley Railway between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth were today cancelled due to a points failure.

Five of 11 trains were cancelled due to the failure at Kidderminster station, which left trains unable to enter or leave platform two.

Met Office spokeswoman Helen Chivers said today: "This weekend will certainly see the lowest temperatures in the region this winter.

"It will be dry at first on Sunday but turning windy with outbreaks of sleet and snow likely by evening.

"However it will turn cloudly and damp on Monday and Tuesday, with further rain or sleet."