The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon on January 2.

It could see some areas blanketed in snow up to 5cm deep, especially on higher ground in parts of North Wales and northwest England.

Separate yellow warnings are also in place for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10am on Friday, and in northern Scotland between 6am on New Year's Day and the end of Friday.

The Met Office said those north of the border could see 10cm-20cm of snowfall, with 30cm possible on the highest routes and hills.

Given the strength of the wind, some significant drifting of snow is said to be "likely" and lightning "may well be an additional hazard".

The cold snap is expected to have an impact on transport, with those heading out urged to prepare for longer journey times by road, bus and train.

The Met Office has additionally warned of injuries due to slips and falls on icy surfaces, which will develop quickly as sleet and snow clears.

The national meteorological service said: "If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery.

"Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated."

The new snow and ice warning is in place for a large part of England and Wales, including Chester and Greater Manchester down to London and Kent.

It affects the East Midlands, east of England, London and southeast England, northwest England, southwest England, Wales and the West Midlands.

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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued more severe warnings for the start of 2026.

It had previously issued amber cold health alerts in the northeast and northwest of England.

However, yellow alerts have been upgraded to amber across the East Midlands, West Midlands, southeast, southwest, east of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.

These warnings will be in place from 8pm on 31 December until 10am on 6 January.

The UKHSA said it means the weather is "likely" to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a "rise in deaths" among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at UKHSA, said the weather is forecast to be "very cold" over the coming few days.

He added: "Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.

"Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

"It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable."

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she described how she "fought back" and that the experience had "lurked for many years".

She said: "Somebody I didn't know - I was reading my book and this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back.

"And I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying, 'why is your hair standing on end?' and 'why is a button missing from your coat?'

"But I remember anger, and I was so furious about it, and it's sort of lurked for many years.

"And I think, you know, when all the subject about domestic abuse came up, and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy's, it's something that I feel very strongly about."

The Queen also used the interview to praise BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, whose family were murdered at their home last year - and said they would be "so proud of you both".

Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61, were killed by Louise's ex-partner Kyle Clifford, 27, in a quiet cul-de-sac in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July 2024.

Clifford, Louise's ex-partner, was handed three whole life orders earlier this year.

After hearing the Queen share her story, Amy said: "Thank you for sharing that story first, Your Majesty, because that takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story."

A fundraising gala was held this month to launch The Hunt Family Fund.

Mr Hunt and Amy set it up in memory of their loved ones to raise money for charities and causes that help and inspire young women.

In the recording, the Queen said: "I'd just like to say, wherever your family is now, they'd be so proud of you both.

"And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister.

"They'd just be so proud of you both."

The discussion, which was recorded in the Garden Room at Clarence House last month, also included former prime minister Baroness Theresa May and was chaired by BBC broadcaster Emma Barnett.

Mr Hunt said a year on after his family was killed it "remains really difficult on a minute-by-minute basis", adding "but you have to try and find the strength in our position to arm yourself with as many tools as possible that are going to help you get through that next hour, get through that next day".

He added: "At the risk of embarrassing Amy, she's been my best counsel from the word go.

"We talk all the time. I used to say 'I couldn't do it without you', but now I say 'I can do it with you'."

Amy said: "I think there's a huge part of us that's still in disbelief, in shock. Perhaps we'll be in that state for the rest of our lives, given the magnitude of our loss.

"We miss them every single minute of the day."

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The Queen's incident was first recounted in the book Power And The Palace: The Inside Story Of The Monarchy And 10 Downing Street by Valentine Low, a former royal reporter for The Times newspaper.

In the book, the Queen was said to have told then mayor of London Boris Johnson in 2008 about the historical attack and reportedly stated: "I did what my mother taught me to. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel."

The man was said to have been arrested after she sought help at Paddington station.

Queen 'wants to remove stigma and shame'

The conversation between the Queen and Mr Johnson was revealed to author Mr Low by the ex-mayor's former communications director, Guto Harri.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Low said he believes the Queen is telling her story in a bid to "remove some of the stigma that might attach to people who have been the victims of similar assaults".

He said: "It means that they can tell their story, not publicly obviously in the way that the Queen has done, but to someone who might help, someone in authority."

Mr Low added: "I think she wants to remove the stigma and the shame, so that people can talk about it and people can do something about it."

The Queen has visited rape centres in the UK and abroad, hosted receptions for sexual assault and domestic abuse survivors, and has regularly spoken out on the issue.

Mr Low said the Queen has been campaigning "for at least a decade", but while her own experience has "informed her approach", it's instead the stories from other survivors that have "fuelled her anger".

The author agreed that the Queen's story "speaks to the modern monarchy" that we are now seeing played out.

He said: "Very much so. I mean, one can't imagine the late Queen, who broke all sorts of barriers herself, but she would never have spoken in these terms."

Mr Low said the modern monarchy is "much more personal", with the royals prepared to talk about what goes on in their own lives.

He added: "You just have to see the way the King was prepared to reveal the details of his cancer diagnosis and the fact that he's undergoing treatment and how he's felt about all that.

"That's really significant. His mother would never have done anything like that."

Joshua, 36, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, suffered minor injuries as he travelled in the back of a black Lexus that hit a truck in Makun, ⁠Ogun State, about 30 miles from the country's biggest city, Lagos.

Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both 36, who were also passengers in the vehicle, died in the accident on the busy highway on Monday.

A man who was nearby when the crash happened said he heard a loud "boom" and thought a truck's tyre had burst.

Speaking to Sky News, Ajala Yusuf Oluwaseyi said he saw a car drive under a truck that was parked on the highway.

He said after the crash Joshua was "shocked with the deadliness of the incident" and added: "He was shocked, he couldn't talk."

Joshua was on holiday in Africa after his win over US YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just over a week ago.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident and authorities said Joshua was taken to hospital for treatment along with another injured person.

Officials said he is still in a "stable" condition and "receiving appropriate medical attention".

Joshua's spokesperson said in a statement Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele "were close friends and integral members of Anthony's team".

One of Mr Ayodele's best friends, Mustafa Briggs, said his loved ones are "shocked" by his death, as he described him as "one of the most pure-hearted" people.

"This is one of the craziest, toughest days of my life," he told Sky News, saying his fondest memory was their shared trip to Mecca, while they also visited Nigeria together this time last year.

"Everybody who knew him loved him," he said. "He lived his life the best way he knew. He was someone who always put his faith first, he was somebody who put prayer as a priority and maintaining a good relationship with everybody he knew.

"He didn't have a bad intention towards anybody. Everybody will always remember him smiling, laughing, being cheerful, and being an inspirational person."

Mr Ayodele also said Mr Ghami, who he met through his friend, seemed like an "amazing person".

How did the crash happen?

The crash happened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, at about midday local time (11am UK time), according to the Nigerian federal road safety corps (FRSC).

The FRSC said preliminary findings indicated the Lexus was "suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed limit" and "lost control" while overtaking before crashing into the truck, which was parked by the side of the road.

"The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways," the corps said on X.

Pictures released by the FRSC show the badly damaged Lexus that Joshua was travelling in and the red Sinotruck that it collided with.

Footage posted on social media shows the British ex-world heavyweight champion apparently wincing in pain as he is helped out of the wreckage by a crowd.

Other clips show him in an emergency vehicle, wearing only a pair of shorts, as he is driven away from the scene.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on X he had "spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two close associates".

"I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care," he said.

Joshua's long-time rival Tyson Fury said in a post on Instagram: "This is so sad may god give them a good bed in heaven."

Support from the boxing world

Former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who retired from boxing after he was knocked out by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, said he was "deeply saddened" by the crash.

"Having had the pleasure of engaging in an unforgettable battle with AJ, I've always regarded him as a true class act who commands my utmost respect," he posted on X.

"My heart goes out to him, and I wish him and his loved ones all the best during this difficult time."

Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan also wished Joshua a "speedy recovery" and said he was "extremely saddened" to hear about the loss of his "two close boys".

"May God give their families strength, and may Allah grant them the highest rank in Jannah," he said on the social media site.

Joshua, who is the son of British-Nigerian parents, attended a boarding school in Ikenne, around 50 miles from where the crash happened, before returning to ‌Britain at the age of 12.

A 20-year-old man was arrested at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, following the incident on Tuesday, police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of six counts of section 18 wounding, affray and criminal damage.

Initially, he was taken to a police station in Merseyside and later detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

The people are being treated for head lacerations, injuries to their arms and hands and bruising after police said a man with a metal bar was denied a hospital appointment.

All are in a stable condition, a Merseyside Police spokesperson said.

A metal bar used during the incident has been recovered for forensic examination, police said.

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Officers were called to the hospital shortly after midday on Tuesday following a report a man had become "increasingly agitated" when his request for an appointment was refused.

Superintendent Sarah Rotherham said: "We understand that this incident would have caused concern for the local community and I hope the public feel reassured by the increased police presence.

"I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to one of our officers or contact their local police station."

Now, he says, "even the sound of cutlery gets me".

"So if we're in a kitchen and there's cutlery shaking, my eyes are alert and I'm not cooling down. That's the PTSD I still hold today," he adds.

After a difficult childhood, alcohol dependency, and two years of being homeless, he says his life was saved when he met youth worker Bradley Stephenson at King's College Hospital.

Bradley works for Redthread, a charity funded by London's 'Violence Reduction Unit' (VRU), to embed youth workers in London's A&Es and Major Trauma Centres.

It is a project designed to support young people who have been the victims of violence or knife crime.

Corrie had actually been admitted for mental health issues, and the call came in right at the end of Bradley's shift. But that night, he agreed to meet the young man anyway.

Bradley explains their programme is all about diverting from the path of crime and violence: "Corrie didn't have money to find accommodation, so the only way he could make money would then be to commit crime.

"So my main support aim at first was finding him accommodation."

Today, Corrie is a changed man who has turned his life around and is committed to helping others.

"There were times where I might not have been the victim of the knife crime," he explains, "but I could have made someone else a victim of it - if they made me feel like I was in danger."

This is why, Bradley explains, the Violence Reduction Unit's future funding of projects like his is so important in the fight against knife crime.

The VRU was set up by the London mayor's office in 2019 to bring a 'public health' attitude to tackling violence.

"Homicides are down by a third since we were set up," the unit's director, Lib Peck, says, adding: "There are 14,000 less incidents of violence with injury and we know there's been a 43% percent reduction in young people admitted to hospital as a result of knife assault."

It sounds impressive, but as always, the true data is a little more complicated.

Homicides in London are indeed at their lowest level than at any point since 2003, and the total number of knife crimes recorded has also been (recently) falling - but only after a huge surge.

Knife crime offences are still more common now than they were two years ago.

There has been a slight reduction in the number of under-25s being injured by knives, but the numbers still show up to 25 young people being stabbed or wounded every single week.

And, while there's also been a reduction in the number of people hospitalised with knife wounds in London since 2018 - a year before the VRU formed - that actually fits the patterns of the national trend.

To better understand the work the VRU has been doing, we visited a custody suite in Brixton.

It's early in the day, but already a teenager has been arrested and is sitting in one of their cells waiting to be interviewed.

But also waiting to talk to them is a youth worker, funded (as in hospitals) by the VRU.

"The whole aim is to kind of divert the pathway that they may be heading down," explains Ian Patnelli, a youth engagement coordinator at Lambeth Council.

"We would seek to meet with them while they're in custody, use that as a reachable, teachable moment, and support them with areas that they may share with us on the day or that we might assess from information that we have once they're released."

So far, youth workers like Ian have reached 10,000 young people in these cells - offering help getting back into education, starting training or employment.

And a recent study found that 80% of the under 18s the VRU had helped didn't go on to reoffend within the next year.

But for Mark Rodney, who runs Project Lifeline in Croydon, the VRU fails to reach the most at-risk children. Their work is good, he tells me, but it doesn't deal with the real issues affecting the most dangerous, or endangered young people.

"These are children killing children," he stresses.

His project moves young people who are the most engaged in violence out of their communities to somewhere safer.

One recent example came after a local child was killed. "In the middle of the vigil a young child spoke to me and said that he's 'gonna be next'," Mark says.

Knowing the child wouldn't want to engage with the authorities, Mark himself "went to that child's house, spoke to his mother, packed him up, packed up his stuff, put it in my car, took him, and then relocated him with help from social services".

And if he hadn't done this, what could have happened?

"Why wouldn't he pick up a knife and protect himself?" asks Mark. "Why wouldn't he? It's a chain reaction and these children are stuck in a vicious circle with no exits."

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Whatever the data shows, Lib Peck insists the VRU isn't complacent about the reality on the streets.

"We know that the number of people feeling safe doesn't correlate to the number of incidents reduced and we also know that for many people who've been affected by violence or indeed horrifically by murder, these are going to be of small comfort to them," she says.

"So there is a huge agenda for us to keep progressing. But it's you know, prevention is an important part of that package and I think the evidence that we've got today shows that."