This winter was exceptionally cold but one of the sunniest in 50 years

This winter - which officially ends tonight - has been exceptionally cold and exceptionally sunny, said Met Eireann.

Up until yesterday, it was one of the coldest winters for at least five years, but it was also one of the sunniest winters in 50 years.

On average, the temperature was 0.5 degrees above normal, compared with the 30 years to 1990. "People might be surprised to hear that," said Mr Peter Lennon, senior meteorological officer with Met Eireann.

The coldest day of this winter was recorded in Straide, Co Mayo, on December 29th when air temperatures fell to -14 degrees and ground temperatures were -16 degrees.

Weather stations at Birr, Co Offaly, and Belmullet, Co Mayo, recorded the lowest temperatures in 14 years, -7.8 degrees and -5.5 degrees respectively over Christmas. Clones, in Monaghan, and Kilkenny recorded their coldest winters for 10 years.

The winter may have seemed wetter than normal but only 70 per cent of the average rainfall fell at Shannon and Birr. The Rosslare weather station recorded the wettest winter in the State, with 28 per cent more rain than normal, yet it also recorded the sunniest winter in 41 years. Malin Head in Donegal had the sunniest winter on record while Clones recorded the sunniest winter in 50 years.

Scotland and the north of England were brought to a standstill by heavy snow and high winds yesterday, with hundreds of motorists and train passengers stranded.

Several towns in the Scottish Borders area were cut off. Scotrail, Virgin Trains and Great North-Eastern Railways cancelled all services between England and Scotland. About 60,000 people in Scotland were without electricity last night.

In the north of England, snow blocked the M7 motorway, with drivers facing the prospect of being stranded until today.