The mercury will climb to double figures later this week after a bitterly cold start to the year.

Temperatures have dipped below freezing over the past few days in Kent and the county even saw its first snowfall earlier this month.

Goudhurst near Tunbridge Wells was found to be the chilliest place in the country between 9pm last Wednesday and 9am on Thursday.

Temperatures in the area dropped as low as -5.6C, earning the area the title of the place with the lowest minimum temperature.

And while the cold spell will continue throughout this week, the end appears to be in sight – for now.

Met Office forecasters predict temperatures will reach double figures in most parts of Kent on Sunday.

Margate, Canterbury, Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Dover, Folkestone, Gravesend and Maidstone will see highs of 10C, Dartford could reach 11C while Sevenoaks will be slightly cooler at 9C.

The mercury will continue to rise on Monday, becoming higher than average, increasing to between 11C and 13C, with highs of between 12C and 14C on Tuesday.

The Met Office’s website states: “By Sunday, the transition to above-normal temperatures is complete with Atlantic frontal systems pushing northeast across the UK bringing spells of rain and very strong winds across all areas.

“There is the potential for some damaging winds on Sunday into Monday, especially in the north.

“Rain is likely to be heavy at times across many western hills.

“The milder and wetter than normal conditions seem most likely to persist through to late January, the wettest and windiest conditions likely to be focussed across the north and northwest, and in the south and southeast some drier and more settled spells of weather are likely, especially later in the month, when the chance of overnight frost and fog increases once again.”

No weather warnings are currently in place for Kent but people are advised to stay vigilant and take precautionary steps to protect themselves from the adverse climate.