HAMPSHIRE is about to say a wintery farewell to 2008 but is bracing itself for an even colder beginning to the new year.

Now campaigners have issued a cold weather warning to the county’s pensioners with temperatures plummeting to a chill factor of minus 10 degrees centigrade.

And some weather experts are predicting that the region could even see some snow in 25mph winds.

A Met Office spokesman said: “This period is going to be bitterly cold and the wind is going to give the weather a real bite.

“We would advise people to wrap up warm and take precautions.”

He went on to say it was hard to say which would be the worst areas as inland areas would be slightly colder but coastal regions would have stronger gusts.

The temperature is expected to drop to zero degrees centigrade today but experts say it will feel as cold as minus six before dropping again in the second week of January.

The first week of 2009 will see some sunshine and slightly warmer although this will give way to several days of heavy cloud, downpours and below zero temperatures.

From January 7 to 10 the temperature is not expected to get higher that zero degrees centigrade with the coldest day of the new year being January 9 at a chill factor of minus 10.

Southampton Pensioners Forum secretary Don Harper said: “I worry about pensioners when temperatures drop this low as some are too worried about fuel bills to put the heating on.

“I would urge older people to put those concerns to the back of their minds and put their health first. At this time of the year you need to be selfish and think of yourselves and your well-being.”

He went on to say that older people should make sure they have at least one hot meal a day, stay active and wrap up warm.

He added that people should not allow themselves to get isolated and not go out without a windproof coat.