VISIBILITY could be reduced to 100 metres or less in Surrey and Hampshire on Thursday, with a thick blanket of fog expected to envelop the area.

The Met Office has issued a ’yellow’ severe weather warning, with areas of dense fog expected to form quickly on Thursday evening, lasting into Friday morning.

Slower journey times with delays to bus and train services are possible, and there is also a chance of delays or cancellations to flights.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Visibilities of less than 100m is expected in places but as the fog forms it is likely to be patchy with varying visibilities in relatively short distances.

"During Thursday evening the fog in the southeast of England is expected to clear but is more likely to persist over parts of southwest England through into Friday morning."

The Met Office weather warning is valid from 5pm on Thursday, December 27 and 11am on Friday, December 28.