Brits urged to prepare homes for ‘worst winter in decades’

Forecasters fear this winter could even be colder than last year's Beast from the East.

British people have been urged to prepare their homes amid fears one of the worst winters in 30 years lies ahead.

Freezing Arctic conditions are expected to send temperatures plunging to their lowest in decades.

Climate experts at University College London have predicted the extreme weather over the next four months after studying current sea temperatures and a North Atlantic weather system.

They believe it could even be colder than the Beast from the East, which saw temperatures drop to as low as -14°C in the Cairngorms in Scotland last year.

Spells of icy weather and snow could last for weeks, the forecasters said.

Now British Gas has warned people to get prepared for the freezing weather by following their advice.

Hannah Hughes, a British Gas service and repair engineer, said: ‘After basking in the sun this summer, it looks like we’re going from one weather extreme to the next.

‘Rather than wait until the weather turns cold before finding out something’s not working as it should be, we’re advising customers to prepare in advance.

‘Now is the time to test your boiler and make a few small changes around the home to ensure your heating and hot water systems are ready to withstand the weather that’s coming.’