Bears have fun on frozen lake at Woburn Safari Park

Parts of the UK faced sub-zero temperatures at the weekend, with the mercury hitting -18.9C on Saturday morning in Altnaharra, Scotland, making it the UK’s coldest January night in 15 years.

Woburn experienced lows of -4C on Friday night, well below the typical average for England of about 1.5 to 1.6C.

The keepers at Woburn Safari Park said the weather had “posed some challenging conditions” but added it was “nice to know that it hasn’t stopped the bears having fun”.

While the bears are in a controlled environment, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service warned against residents walking on frozen bodies of water.

A spokesperson said: “With sub-zero temperatures many bodies of water will freeze over, these may look like fun places to play but stepping onto the ice could cost you your life.”

They continued: “Avoid walking or playing near the edge. If you’re walking a dog, keep it on a lead so that they’re not at risk of falling in. If someone falls through the ice call 999 immediately, and never walk onto the ice to help them, external.”