THE UK is set to be battered with relentless rain as temperatures plunge below freezing this week.

       The Met Office predicts showers, chills, and freezing fog in the coming days.

       5

       Freezing fog could sweep across England and Wales Credit: Getty 5

       Temperatures will drop below zero in parts Credit: The Met Office

       Yesterday saw torrential rain sweeping across the country, with more wet weather set for tonight.

       A patchwork of drizzle, dry spells and even some sun has been seen today - with extreme weather in some parts.

       In East Sussex, three people had to be airlifted to safety after getting cut off by high tide and four-metre high waves, the BBC reports.

       A spokesperson for the RNLI "strongly urged" beachgoers and water lovers to "check the weather and tides before setting out".

       And cloud is expected to roll in tonight with fog covering England and Wales.

       Most read in News

       FIND HER Woman tried to lure boy, 8, away from family 'with sexual comment' at busy station

       CHILD 'SNATCH' Girl, 4, 'led away from pub by man' before arrest with help from drinkers

       WINGING IT ‘Britain’s worst KFC’ slammed as a ‘disgusting vile dump' by diners

       ROCK HORROR Moment canyon cracks and crushes seven people to death

       There are also 12 flood alerts in place across the country, with the Environment Agency warning rivers could swell and rise - causing flooding to fields and gardens in some parts.

       The alerts are in place in for much of the South West, around Wolverhampton, Leeds, Norwich and Eastbourne.

       Frost and fog is set for the latter end of the week, with freezing fog rolling across England and Wales, a spokesperson for The Met Office said.

       The forecaster told The Sun: "We've seen pretty much an average start to the month in terms of rainfall, we're running at about 30 per cent of the average rainfall - we would usually expect to be at that value.

       "But high pressure building and fog will be the main problem.

       "It looks quite nice around the middle of the week, and Wednesday could be quite sunny - but there is an increasing risk developing of freezing fog on Thursday and Friday.

       "So that's fog with temperatures below freezing, and that could cause some disruption to travel and aviation, so there could be some disruption at airports, for example.

       "But there's no snow or particularly disruptive wind."

       Tomorrow, the Met Office warns of thick cloud, rain and drizzle.

       The forecast says: "Mostly cloudy, cloud thick enough for some rain or drizzle at times, mainly in the north and west.

       "Mostly dry in the southeast where some brighter spells. Milder than Sunday."

       Meanwhile temperatures will plunge, with the mercury dipping below zero overnight in Northern Scotland and hitting just one degree in Dumfries from 9pm tonight.

       Aberdeen will be shivering in their boot, with temps of -3C.

       And by midnight, residents in Loch Rannoch, near Perth, will be shivering at -2 C.

       Parts of the northeast will see freezing temperatures in the early morning, too.

       The are flood alerts in place across the country 5

       It's a miserable picture with drizzle, fog and freezing temperatures Credit: LNP 5

       Freezing fog later in the week could cause travel disruption Credit: UkNewsinPictures 5

       We're in for a chilly and wet week Credit: Alamy