Urgent search to find three teenagers missing in -11.2C Arctic freeze as Met Office issues fresh snow and ice warnings – with map revealing worst-hit areas

Police launched urgent searches for three missing teenagers in the Arctic chill today as Britain was gripped by snow and ice with temperatures falling to -11C (12F).

A major land, air and sea search was underway on the Isle of Lewis after 16-year-old Aleksandr Benga vanished from Stornoway in ‘extremely cold’ weather.

Police Scotland urged local residents to check their outbuildings and sheds for Aleksandr who was last seen at 8.45am yesterday in the grounds of Lews Castle.

Elsewhere, Northumbria Police issued a missing persons appeal for 15-year-old Reece Lane who was last seen in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, at 10.30am yesterday.

And South Yorkshire Police said it was concerned for the welfare of a 16-year-old called Ilona who went missing at 11am yesterday in the Balby area of Doncaster.

It came amid a big chill with the coldest UK temperature this early in the season since 1998 recorded this morning as Braemar in Aberdeenshire fell to -11.2C (12.2F).

The Met Office imposed four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice today across the east coast of England, South Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

And the UK Health Security Agency issued the first amber cold weather health alert of the season, warning conditions could be dangerous for vulnerable people.

In Scotland, police appealed for information to help find Aleksandra Benga, who was last seen yesterday morning near to the water wheel in the grounds of Lews Castle.

Inspector David Hall said: ‘We are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of Aleksandr as are his family. He has not been seen for over 24 hours now.

‘It was extremely cold overnight and we would ask residents to check their outbuildings and sheds as he may have sought shelter there.

‘Local officers, along with assistance from HM Coastguard and RNLI’s Stornoway lifeboat have resumed search activity this morning.’

Officers said he was wearing a beige jumper and black jeans, and may also have a red jacket. They urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 101 quoting incident 0803 of Monday.

In South Yorkshire, officers issued a public appeal for help to find missing Ilona after she has not been seen or heard from since yesterday morning.

Ilona was described as white, 5ft 3in tall and of a slim build with shoulder-length red hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved top, grey jogging bottoms, a black shiny cropped coat with a fur hood and white Nike trainers.

She is known to have links to Manchester, and the force said: ‘We are becoming concerned for Ilona’s welfare and want to speak to anybody who has seen her. Have you seen her? Do you know where she might be?’

Anyone with details was urged to call 101 quoting incident number 356 of Monday.

And in North Tyneside, police said Reece Lane was last seen in the Chestnut Avenue area of Whitley Bay yesterday morning and is known to frequent the Marden Quarry and Cullercoats areas.

He was described as 5ft 6in tall, of medium build and with mousey blond or brown hair, which is long on top and shaven at the back.

Reece he was last seen wearing black Adidas trainers, black Nike jogging bottoms and a red hoodie which has a tear in the left pocket.

Northumbria Police said urged anyone with information to call 101 and quote reference number NP-20241118-0390.

It comes as the snow impacted rail routes today, with no trains able to run between Nottingham and Worksop or between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales.

Northern services across Yorkshire between Bradford and Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge to Halifax and Halifax to Hull were also impacted, while flooding near Ulverston in Cumbria caused disruption between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster.

Some 130 Welsh schools shut across Wrexham, Powys, Denbighshire and Flintshire – while closures were also reported in Birmingham , Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Nearly 5in (12cm) of snow fell at Watnall in Nottinghamshire, with 3in (8cm) recorded at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and 2in (5cm) at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales.

The Met Office warnings advised that vehicles could be stranded, power cuts may occur, rural areas could be cut off and there was a risk of injury from slipping on ice.

Four yellow warnings for snow and ice were active today, including for:

• Northern Ireland from 6pm today until 10am tomorrow;
• South Wales from 11.40am today until midnight tonight;
• The east coast of England from 6pm tonight until 12pm tomorrow; and
• Northern Scotland from 4pm yesterday until 10am tomorrow.

The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber cold weather health alert for the East and North of England, the Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Yellow health alerts also came into place for the South East, South West and London at 8am today, lasting until 6pm on Saturday.

National Rail warned the cold climate would affect various routes on northern train services until at least 2pm this afternoon.

Thousands of train passengers suffered disruption due to the severe weather.

By 11am this morning, some 64 out of a total of 120 services (53 per cent) planned by East Midlands Railway were cancelled or delayed by at least half-an-hour, according to the trains.im punctuality and reliability website.

Figures for other operators include London North Eastern Railway (37 per cent), Transport for Wales (13 per cent), West Midlands Trains (13 per cent) and CrossCountry (12 per cent).

Merseyrail issued an alert warning passengers that due to the potential of snow and ice covering tracks, the first service on each line in North West England ran without customers to ensure conditions could be checked.

National Highways also sent out a severe amber weather alert for snow, with the M1 in Leeds and Sheffield, the M56 in Manchester, junction 39 of the M6 and junctions 21-23 of the M62 likely to see disruption.

The Met Office, which described the conditions as ‘the first taste of winter’, said heavy snow would prove disruptive in England, with Derbyshire being the area most likely to be affected.

Dan Suri, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘An area of low pressure slides its way eastwards on Monday night.

‘The associated frontal system, marking the boundary between cold air in the north and milder conditions to the south, will bring disruptive snow to some areas between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

‘This is likely to coincide with rush hour, leading to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning. It will also be windy in the far south.’

The Alzheimer’s Society warned that cold weather can be ‘particularly challenging’ for people with dementia.

‘Colder temperatures can be difficult for a person with dementia to adjust to, and they may not always be able to communicate that they are cold – or they may not even recognise it themselves,’ the charity said.

It advised the public to check in on loved ones, friends and neighbours living with the condition.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘This is the first amber Cold Weather Health Alert of the season, but we can expect more as we approach winter, and it is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather.

‘Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.’

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the charity was worried that the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment has caused many older people to be ‘extra fearful’ about turning on their heating this winter.

‘With high energy bills and food prices it is understandable that some may think they have to cut back on food and turn their heating off, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a serious impact on an older person’s health, especially if they are already trying to manage existing illnesses,’ she said.

‘The cold raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke and breathing in cold air can also increase the risk, and impact, of serious illnesses like flu and pneumonia.’

Ms Abrahams said it is ‘vital’ that older people stay ‘fit, warm and well if they can’ by having hot food and drinks throughout the day, wrapping up warm and sleeping with the windows closed.

Another charity Asthma + Lung UK urged those living with lung conditions to be ‘extra careful’.

The charity warned that cold weather can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks or ‘flare-ups’ for people with other lung conditions.

Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, said: ‘Your risk of ending up in A&E doubles in winter if you have a lung condition.

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‘We’re here to help you to stay well, however every day people with lung conditions are needlessly suffering and without urgent action more lives will be put at risk.’

And RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: ‘The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year. 

‘With freezing temperatures already causing disruption in the east and north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and snow showers now affecting regions further south, we advise motorists to plan well ahead and only make journeys if absolutely essential.

‘Drivers should ensure their tyres have plenty of tread and are inflated to the correct pressure to give them the best possible grip on the road. 

‘It’s best to stick to major roads, rather than rural areas where surfaces may not be gritted, reduce speeds and leave plenty of space behind the vehicle in front to ensure you have more time to stop. 

‘Everyone should travel prepared in case they find themselves broken down at the side of the road: a blanket, warm waterproof coat and gloves, sturdy footwear and a charging cable and mobile power bank are all essentials.’

Have you been affected by the snow? Please email: tips@dailymail.com