A Moray village looks to have laid claim to being the coldest place in the UK of the year.
The honour had appeared to be claimed by Braemar in Aberdeenshire on Chirstmas Day when the thermometer fell to -8.5deg.
However overnight on Sunday Cromdale on the A95 recorded a temperature of -9deg – and with forecasters predicting a rise in temperatures going into the New Year that looks unlikely to be beaten.
A Met Office spokesman said: “It looks likely that temperatures will now climb going into the New Year and although they will remain close to freezing overnight it will be a few degrees higher during the daylight hours.”
First footers are being told to wrap up but that it will “not be particularly chilly” over Hogmanay with New Year’s Day expected to be one of the warmest this week – although it may also be a little wet.