Causeway and rope bridge closed

On Monday a National Trust spokeswoman said the icy weather had made the north Antrim coast area extremely dangerous.

The Met Office has warned about widespread ice and further sleet and snow showers in the north and west.

As the icy conditions continue, the government has announced it will make a second round of cold weather payments.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said on Monday that an additional 25 would be paid automatically to about 166,000 people on low incomes to help with heating costs.

Last month was the coldest December in almost 30 years according to readings taken at the Armagh Observatory.

The mean temperature was 1.5C, the coldest average measurement since 1981.

However December was sunnier and drier than normal with 53.3 hours of sunshine, about 40% more than normal for the time of the year.

Precipitation was 40% less than the average, but snow fell on seven days, from December 18 to 23 and on December 30.

There was grass frost on 27 days in the month, with air frost on 16 days.

The average temperature for 2009, at 9.87C, was close to the average of 9.94C for the last 20 years.

2009 was the wettest year since 1981 with rainfall about 10% higher than the average.

Armagh Observatory has been taking weather readings since 1795.