THE freezing temperatures that Tavistock has been experiencing reached an all time low in the last decade, of below -10C last week.

Last Thursday night saw the lowest temperature to be recorded in Tavistock for at least nine years.

Tavistock resident and meteorologist David Thomas, records the weather as a full time hobby and notes down official weather figures for Tavistock.

He said: 'I use proper scientific instruments to record the weather and get official figures and I'm always in contact with the Met Office.'

Mr Thomas has been practising meteorology since 1963, but since retiring, moved to Tavistock in 2000 where he has been recording the town's weather full time ever since.

Thursday night's temperature of -10C (14F), was the lowest temperature he had recorded in his time in the town.

Mr Thomas said: 'It is a remarkable spell of weather we are having at the moment.'

Before last Thursday, the coldest temperature recorded in Tavistock was -9C in January last year, by John Martin, a meteorologist from Saxon Heights, Tavistock.

Mr Thomas believes the cold weather looks set to stay for a while. 'The wind will be coming in from Russia over the next few days so it will be cold and windy.'