Met Office warns 'severe' cold weather poses threat to elderly and vulnerable ... trends now

The Met Office has warned that 'severe' cold weather poses a threat to elderly and vulnerable people from Wednesday. 

Temperatures are set to plummet as low as -6C in the North East this week as a blast of Arctic air heading to the UK - dubbed the 'Troll from Trondheim' - brings with it heavy frosts, ice and snow showers.

Forecasters have issued a level 3, or amber, cold weather alert warning of severe conditions across England between 6pm on Wednesday and 9am on Monday December 12. 

The alert is triggered when the country faces extreme cold weather that could increase health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt delivery of services. 

Under level 3, social and healthcare services are required to take action to protect high-risk groups.

The UK Health Security Agency today also issued a cold weather alert and advised elderly people and those with medical conditions to heat their homes, amid fears that people will be reluctant to do so given the record-high cost of energy.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at UKHSA, said: 'Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk. 

'If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. 

'Try to heat the rooms you use most, such as the living and bedroom, to at least 18°C if you can and keep your bedroom windows closed at night.'

But charities have warned that vulnerable people are reluctant to turn on their heating this winter due to record-high energy bills and will instead endure dangerously low temperatures.

National Energy Action said four in five people plan to ration energy this winter, while more than half are already rationing hot water and 13 per cent are reducing use of medical equipment.

Adam Scorer, chief executive of NEA, said: 'This winter has already been bleak and next year is set to be even worse. 

'With Government support being reduced and energy bills spiralling yet again in April, one in three households will be in fuel poverty. 

'That means many of them will be forced to bed wearing coats, rationing showers and hot water, it means running up huge debts or self-disconnecting and going cold. 

'Millions of the most vulnerable – carers, people with disabilities, those on low incomes and living in inefficient homes – are already bearing the brunt this winter. 

'The effects of this are devastating on both physical and mental health. Make no mistake, cold homes can kill.' 

Snow is set to fall in the North East from Wednesday, with temperatures falling as low as -6C by Thursday. The current English record this season is -5.4C at Redesdale Camp, Northumberland, on November 30. 

In Wales, the coldest temperature of the season was -2.8C at Libanus, Powys on December 2.

In the Scottish Highlands on Wednesday, a warning has been issued for up to two inches of snow at low levels and four inches in areas at least 650ft above sea level. 

The National Grid says it does not expect blackouts this weekend, as temperatures fall and millions of Britons stay home or flock to pubs to watch England's World Cup quarter-final clash against France in Qatar. 

It comes after insiders said fears of blackouts last week were fuelled by low winds, not the World Cup.

And energy experts told MailOnline that the risk of power cuts on Saturday or Sunday was 'vanishingly small' but energy supplies could be 'tighter than usual' on Thursday. They added that January could be tighter still as temperatures fall further. 

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: 'Temperatures will start to dip this week, with daytime temperatures struggling to get above freezing in many places from mid-week onwards.

'However, the cold air from the Arctic

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