Motorists have been warned to take extra care today and tomorrow, especially in the South, because of the combination of fog and ice.

At least one person was killed in freezing fog last night in a pile-up on the M1 causing long tailbacks on the Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire border. Five people needed hospital treatment after an 18-vehicle pile-up on the M6 near Wigan, which caused tailbacks 11 miles long.

Another driver suffered light injuries in an accident on the M25. Emergency workers were astonished that no one was seriously injured in the pile-up involving a lorry carrying forklift trucks.

Ambulance services have been dealing with a sharp increase in road accidents and people falling on icy pavements. A spokesman for Wiltshire Ambulance Service said: “We have had quite a few falls with people outside doing their Christmas shopping. They have been slipping, sliding and falling over everywhere.”

A spokesman for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance Service said that there had been a “noticeable increase” in accidents caused by icy roads. Gritters have been in operation throughout the country. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning last night of dense, freezing fog that would make driving conditions treacherous.

Premiership football fell victim to the fog last night as Birmingham City’s home match against Bolton Wanderers was postponed shortly before kick-off.

In racing, National Hunt fans will have to await an early morning track inspection to learn if ice and fog have eased enough to allow the Warwick and Sedgefield meets to be held.

From Thursday strong winds are likely to sweep away the fog that has affected much of the country for the past few days, but most areas will be colder. By the end of the week much of Britain is expected to be shivering in below-zero temperatures — even throughout the day — while snow and ice are predicted to cause chaos with sporting fixtures.

Up to 8in of snow is expected in parts of Britain later this week as polar winds sweep down from the Arctic.

Northern and eastern areas are likely to bear the brunt of the icy winds, which will reach gale force in parts, but forecasters will not be able to predict the exact areas or magnitude until tomorrow.

Steve Randall, of the Met Office, said: “A blast of cold wind from polar regions will go through the UK. It really is going to feel very cold and there’s going to be some snow.”

He said that it will begin on Thursday and the worst effects will be felt on Friday, bringing with it the risk that many of the weekend’s sports fixtures will be postponed. The winds will ease on Sunday.

Mr Randall added: “We know it’s coming, we just don’t know exactly where. In some areas people will probably be able to ask what all the fuss is about, while others are snowbound.”

The Department for Work and Pensions disclosed that more than £60 million could potentially be claimed in cold weather payments if the next few months turn out to be as cold as the forecasters have suggested.

The extra payments are made to claimants who are pensioners or have young children if the average temperature falls or is forecast to fall below freezing for a week or more.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Forces chief faces new battle - the economy
• Seven days that shook the world
• Icelanders wake up and smell ... the fish