TEMPERATURES are expected to fall below freezing tonight as the cold snap contines across the county, the Met Office has warned.

Following the weekend's heavy snow - which forced the cancellation of the OX5 charity run at Blenheim Palace - the big freeze is likely to lead to one of the coldest nights of the year, with hail showers possible.

A spokesman for the Met Office warned temperatures could fall as low as -5C overnight.

Oxfordshire County Council gritter trucks will be preparing the roads throughout the day.

Yesterday, organisers of the OX5 Run were still in talks to reschedule the event.

The five-mile route around the Woodstock palace, due to take place on Sunday in aid of the Oxford's Children Hospital, was called off for safety reasons.

Graham Brogden, head of community fundraising at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, said: "Around 550 people had already signed up to do the run and we asked for participants to raise a minimum of £100.

"We would have raised a substantial amount of money with the event."

Organiser Margaret Marsh added: "At the moment we are working on a date to reschedule the run for. Participants should stick with us."