Slough Borough Council has issued advice to residents following a severe weather warning from the Met office, while the Royal Borough Council has activated its severe weather emergency protocol.

A level three alert, indicating a 90% probability of severe cold weather, will be in place in parts of England, including Slough and Windsor, from 3pm today (Wednesday, January 11) until 9pm on Sunday 15 January.

Forecasters also believe there is the potential for it to snow in South East England on Thursday afternoon/evening.

Rough sleepers in Slough are being urged to use the homeless night shelter, which is available every night between now and the end of March.

This year the council has teamed up with local charity London and Slough Run to provide emergency shelters across Slough.

Anyone who thinks they might need to use the shelter is being urged to register in person at:

•           MyCouncil (Landmark Place, High Street) between 9 and 10am on every weekday except for Thursdays

•           SHOC , Burlington Avenue, Slough

•           The Salvation Army, Stoke Road, Slough.

A special helpline called StreetLink is available for rough sleepers and members of the public who wish to report someone sleeping rough.

The helpline number is 0300 500 0914, or visit www.streetlink.org.uk.

For those sleeping rough in Windsor, the sever weather protocol means anyone who is homeless in the area can contact the council’s housing team. The team will then source emergency temporary accommodation for them. 

They can be reached on 01628 683673 or 01628 683800.

Any landlords interested in allowing people to use their housing throughout any periods of severe weather are urged to call the same number.

The Slough Borough council’s public health team has also reissued some advice about keeping warm and well this winter:

1.         Keep warm - heat your home to at least 18°C (65°F). You may prefer your main living room to be slightly warmer. Keep your bedroom window closed on a winter’s night. Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.

2.         Get financial support - there are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. View the Keep Warm Keep Well booklet online to learn more www.gov.uk/phe/keep-warm

3.         Look after yourself -

•           Contact your GP to get your free flu jab if you are aged 65 or over, live in a residential or nursing home, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person. NHS Choices provides information about flu. Visit www.nhs.uk/flu to learn more.

•           Don’t delay in getting treatment for minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats - visit your local pharmacist for advice on treatment before it gets worse so you can recover more quickly.

•           Layer your clothing whether you are indoors or outside - wrap a scarf around your mouth to protect your lungs from the cold air.

•           Wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside.

•           When you’re indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Get up, stretch your legs and make yourself a warm drink.

•           Have your heating and cooking appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure they are operating safely.

•           Contact your water and power suppliers to see if you can be on the Priority Services Register, a service for older and disabled people.