Britons experienced the coldest January for more than 20 years after heavy snowfall in the first half of the month, figures revealed.

It was also drier and sunnier than average and featured a long cloudy period between the 5th and 25th, according to a monthly review by climatologist Philip Eden.
He said: “Although the second half of the month was unremarkable temperature-wise, the severity of the cold period during the first half was such that January turned out to be the coldest since 1987, and the ninth coldest in the last 100 years, The Daily Telegraph reported.
“Snow fell frequently and sometimes heavily during the first fortnight, notably on the 4th/5th when depths of 25-35cm (9.8-13.8ins) were measured across a large area from the Cotswolds to the Weald.
“Accumulated depths of 40-60cm were noted in upland parts of eastern Scotland and north-east England and here snow on the ground lasted throughout the month.
“Overall it was both drier and sunnier than an average January although most of the sunshine came during the first and last weeks.”
Temperatures dropped to -22.3C at Altnaharra, Sutherland, overnight on January 7-8 - the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in the UK since late-December 1995, Mr. Eden said.