The death toll from Britain's big freeze could rise to more than 2,000, as it emerged the Met Office had warned ministers a month ago about the cold snap.

The number of people who have died in cold homes in the UK might reach 100 per day this winter, a charity warned in an analysis of Office for National Statistics figures.

Monday will be the first day back at work for many, after snow caused four days of transport mayhem and the coldest start to spring in five years brought about from the so-called "Beast from the East" Siberian weather front.

It comes as Government minister Kit Malthouse warned employers not to unfairly punish workers who took snow days last week.

Around 12,000 properties are without water in the London and Thames Valley area after extreme weather hit the region, as Thames Water asked households to limit the amount they were using.

Network Rail yesterday urged customers in London, the North East of England and the East Midlands to travel only if absolutely necessary, while Virgin Trains's rail route between Carlisle and Scotland remained closed.

But amid the expected lift in most travel restrictions on Monday, experts have begun to assess the health impacts of the cold snap.