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 By Alice Philipson

After a mild start to 2013, which saw highs of 13C in parts of the UK over the weekend, temperatures could drop by as much as 10C by Thursday.

Across the UK, temperatures will return to around the January average, with -1 or -2C expected in rural areas on Thursday night.

Up to 10mm of rain is also forecast for England and Wales on Thursday, as the spell of dry weather that marked the beginning of the year comes to an end.

However by Friday, forecasters predicted clearer skies and more sunshine, leading to widespread icy temperatures.

A Met Office spokesman said Thursday would see a "marked drop" in temperatures.

"We'll see a return to more normal temperatures for January after seeing unseasonable highs of 12C and even 13C in Scotland over the weekend," he said.

"But at this time of the year colder weather also usually brings sunshine and we will see brighter weather by Friday."

The start of 2013 had been markedly milder than the weather experienced by most of Britain in December, which started with freezing temperatures and finished with heavy rainfall and strong winds.