WINTER has tightened its icy grip on the UK with snow, sleet and sub-zero temperatures and the news is there's more to come. While our infrastructure is notoriously bad at coping with winter weather - with commuters forced to wait it out when roads are blocked by snow, as happened last week - there are things you can do to prepare yourself for what's ahead.

WARD OFF WINTER ILLS

IT can be hard to keep healthy when everyone around you is coughing and sneezing, but it's worth a try! NHS Direct has the following tips on keeping warm and well:

* Keep your home warm. Improve your insulation and draught proofing and keep your house well heated.

*Wrap up warm, inside and out. Wear a hat (up to half your body heat is lost through the head) and shoes that will grip in slippery conditions.

*Eat healthily. Choose foods like potato, carrot, parsnip, swede, turnip, celery, onion, beetroot, radish and garlic, which can be turned into nutritious vegetable stews, soups and casseroles that will fill you up, but won't make you gain weight.

*Keep active. Avoid sitting down for long periods. Even light exercise will increase your appetite and reduce the risk of heart disease.

l Stop smoking. You're never too old to quit and the benefits are numerous.

ON THE MOVE

WHILE it's no fun standing in the cold waiting for a bus or train, car drivers don't have an easy time of it in the winter either. As if adverse weather conditions and poor visibility weren't enough to strike fear into them, the threat of breaking down on a cold, frosty night is enough to make anyone stay home.

If your car is hard to start in cold weather, the battery could be to blame, according to Nigel Charlesworth, spokesman for road rescue service Green Flag Motoring Assistance. ''Non-starts due to battery problems account for almost 50 per cent of all requests for breakdown assistance. With some simple maintenance and preventative action as soon as the battery starts to fail, many of these breakdowns could be avoided,'' he says. Tell-tale signs including difficulties in turning the engine over on cold mornings and after the car has been parked up for long periods. Green Flag has the following advice for winter driving:

*Check the weather forecast before setting off and throughout the journey.

l Remove ice from the windscreen to ensure good visibility.

* Ensure tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and have adequate tread depth.

l Check the oil and water levels and top up if necessary.

l Ensure wiper blades are in good condition and top up screen washer bottles.

l Make sure all lights are clean and in good working order to ensure optimum visibility.

* Carry a fully-charged mobile phone in the car with the number of your breakdown organisation stored in it in case of emergencies.

l Keep a few essentials in the car such as a blanket, some water and some food in case you get stranded.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR

MORE than 20,000 older people could die as a result of the cold this winter, according to Age Concern. Gordon Lishman, Age Concern's director general, says the elderly need all the help they can get to survive the bitter weather. ''It is essential that older people keep warm during the winter. We would urge that they make sure that their home is heated properly. Dressing well and keeping active is another way to keep warm and eating good meals will provide energy throughout the day,'' he says.

As well as making sure your elderly relatives are prepared for a cold snap, be a good neighbour and keep an eye on any older people living nearby. Offer to help them with their shopping or arrange for their heating to be checked - it won't take long and it could make a big difference.

IT'S NOT ALL BAD

THE cold weather might mean you won't be skipping about in a bikini any time soon, but is that really such a bad thing? Here's a list of things to love about winter:

COMFORT FOOD:

Think stews, think lamb shanks, think big hearty soups eaten with piles of crusty bread. Then there's hot pasties and pies which serve the dual purpose of keeping your hands warm while you eat them. And stodgy steamed puds served with lashings of custard and cream. Worried about adding a few pounds? Think of yourself as a bear going into hibernation instead.

COMFORT DRINKS:

Running a close second to comfort food, this category encompasses everything from hearty cups of builder's tea to steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Don't forget mulled wine or a warming tot of whisky either.

COATS, HATS, SCARVES AND GLOVES:

Heard of Michelin man chic? It's the look everyone in the know is going for with the mercury plummeting and the rain turning to sleet. Layering is the best way to stay warm, so pile them on. Conveniently, it's also a good way to camouflage the result of too many warming winter meals (see above). Don't forget to add a hat - it's a handy way to keep warm and hide bad hair days.

LIE-INS:

It's cold. It's dark. Heating is expensive. The solution? Stay in bed, preferably with a good book, a pile of glossy magazines or a domestic god/goddess to see to your every need.