Freezing temperatures have caused travel chaos for drivers with dozens of skidpan crashes reported across the country.
Britain is expected face temperatures of less that -7C today following the country’s coldest night of winter on Sunday.
One accident involved a pony being hit by a car in Yelverton in Dartmoor National Park, according to reports.
In Tavistock, Devon, a car and a crane were involved in a smash causing road blockages due to debris.
Freezing temperatures have caused travel chaos for drivers with dozens of skidpan crashes reported across the country. Pictured: A car flipped onto its roof in a crash near Alweston, Dorset
The plunging thermometers, which come after high pressure brought widespread mist and frost, will see fog or freezing fog patches develop across southern parts of northwest England into the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England
The icy road conditions reported today come as Britain is expected face temperatures of less that -7C following Britain’s coldest night of winter on Sunday. Pictured: The sun rises over the village of Brill near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire
Heavens above! Cloud in the shape of Jesus Christ is spotted in the skies over the West Midlands
Caroline Hawthorne, 42, took a picture of a cloud shaped like Jesus Christ as it floated above her house.
Ms Hawthorne was making a cup of tea when she spotted the bizarre formation from her kitchen window in Willenhall, West Midlands.
She grabbed her iPhone SE and took the snap moments before the cloud drifted apart on January 4.
Ms Hawthorne said she sent the picture to friends and family members who likened the eerie image to Jesus or an angel.
Caroline Hawthorne, 42, took a picture of a cloud shaped like Jesus Christ as it floated above her house
The copywriter, who lives alone, said: ‘It was really odd.
‘The sky was quite cloudy and there was this weird cloud formation.
‘People have been telling me it looks like an angel or Jesus with his arms outstretched.
‘It was so bizarre and I’ve never seen anything like it.’
It’s not clear whether the crane was stationary or being transported.
The plunging thermometers, which come after high pressure brought widespread mist and frost, will see fog or freezing fog patches develop across southern parts of northwest England into the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England.
As Britain braces itself for the approaching bitter chill, the weather has also ignited concern for the effect the temperatures could have on wildlife, such as birds, and plants.
Following the cold start to the day, many areas across the nation are expected to become dry and bright once the freezing patches of fog begin to clear.
However, forecasters warn the frosty evenings were set to continue, as ‘exceptionally high’ pressure threatened TV and radio blackouts.
Devon and Cornwall police advised drivers shortly after 7.15am today to avoid the area because of rush-hour congestion and traffic jams.
The Met Office in Devon and Cornwall warned drivers making the Monday morning commute and school run to ‘drive with care’ as ice was possible even on gritted roads.
Road-surface temperatures were at -5.1C (22.82) and were forecasted to drop even further.
Police advised motorists to ‘crawl along’ on icy roads even if it made them late for work.
A traffic officer in the Thames Valley – where even major roads like the M4 needed heavy gritting – said: ‘It’s better to get to work or school late, and risk a telling off, than to end up in hospital or even worse, in a mortuary.’
Even with the freezing temperatures, two hardy swimmers took a dip in a -10C (14F) lake.
Brave Joanne Richardson, 36, and Christine Davies, 37, plunged into the near freezing water 700-metres up a Lake District mountain.
The friends are both experienced cold-water swimmers and don’t let winter temperatures put them off.
They stripped to their swimsuits and paddled into Red Tarn, a lake on the eastern flank of Helvellyn, beneath Striding Edge and Catstye Cam.
Video footage and photos of the pair were taken at dawn on Sunday, January 19, and show them trying out the chilly tarn waters, which hovered at about 1C (33F).
The air temperature was a shocking -10C and one of the coldest dawns of the year so far.
Joanne said: ‘It was the most magical feeling – feet crunching through the snow before we walked into the icy water, with the snow capped peaks all around us.’
Christine added: ‘It’s a stunning place for a sunrise dip. With a temperature of -10C with wind chill it’s important to have the right experience and equipment when dipping up in the hills as you’re a long way from help.’
The pair, who both live in the Lake District, had medical help on hand just in case.
One person who watched them said: ‘It’s certainly not for the fainthearted.’
Red Tarn was formed when the glacier that carved out the eastern side of Helvellyn melted.
It lies at an altitude of 718 metres (2,356 feet), with a depth of 25 metres (82 feet).
Firefighters today warned motorists to make sure their windscreens are cleared of ice and frost before setting off on a journey.
As Britain braces itself for the approaching bitter chill, the weather has also ignited concern for the effect the temperatures could have on wildlife, such as birds, and plants. Pictured: Daybreak over the Oxfordshire countryside at Dunsden
Following the cold start to the day, many areas across the nation are expected to become dry and bright once the freezing patches of fog begin to clear. Pictured: Mist near Thame in Oxfordshire
The warning came after a car flipped on to its roof in a crash near Alweston, Dorset.
A crew from Sherborne fire station was sent to make the scene safe.
When firefighters arrived, one person was out of the vehicle already and was checked over by ambulance paramedics.
The teams used environmental pads to prevent any fluids entering the drains.
The Met Office in Devon and Cornwall warned drivers making the Monday morning commute and school run to ‘drive with care’ as ice was possible even on gritted roads. Pictured: A road near Howey in Powys, Wales
A spokesman for the fire service said: ‘With the cold mornings please ensure you leave extra time for your journeys and ensure your windscreen is fully cleared.’
Police have issued a similar warning and have also urged drivers not to leave iced-up cars parked with engines idling on driveways and in the street outside their homes.
They said there have been several thefts where people had switched on the heaters to clear windscreens of ice before going indoors to warm up.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: ‘When they come back out, their car has gone – thieves are aware of the practice and often lurk around waiting for a chance to jump into a car and steal it.’