Icy temperatures continue to grip much of Europe, causing death to dozens of people throughout the continent, major disruption to power, water supplies and transport networks in recent days.

The extreme coldness also caused eight deaths in Italy, with at least half a dozen victims identified as homeless, including a man living in the basement of an abandoned building in Milan and another on a street flanking Florence's Arno river.

According to the authorities on Saturday, there were two more in Poland, raising the nation's death toll from winter weather to 55 since last November.

The freezing conditions with blizzards persisted across Europe last Sunday, with temperatures in Poland dropped below -20C on Saturday, and gaining possibility to reach even lower in the next few days.

In Czech Republic, six deaths were reported, most of them were homeless and Prague had its coldest night so far this winter, Czech officials say reported BBC.

The high winds and heavy snow also caused rerouted flights, closed roads, delayed ferries and cancelled train in Italy. Some schools in the south, although with no indication of a letup, were ordered to remain closed as the snow reaches up to 1 metre in length.

Meanwhile in Bulgaria, three people - two Iraqis and one Somali had died from the weather and found near the Turkish-Bulgarian border. In Serbia, river traffic on Danube were banned due to the extreme weather condition.

In Istanbul, more than 650 Turkish Airlines flight were grounded as the snow continued to fall. Similar transport disruption were also reported in Romania and Bulgaria. On the other hand, Russian were seen braving through the conditions as 500 cyclists went on a five-mile ride along the Moscow river last Sunday.

The weather is expected to hit the UK towards the end of this week, and most likely to start in the north and spread southwards, according to The Guardian.