The ground temperature dipped fractionally under zero in Eindhoven on Wednesday night in what weather forecasters say was the first frost of the year.

The temperature ‘at clog height’ was -0.3 Celsius at around 21.30 hours, weather bureau Weeronline said.

This is the latest the first ground frost has ever been recorded. Usually the temperature ducks below zero in late September, Weeronline said.

However, to be classed as real frost, the temperature must dip below freezing point 1.5 metres into the ground. The latest this has ever happened was in 2000, when the first frost was recorded on December 16.