The National Grid has issued an alert warning power suppliers to use less gas as freezing temperature push demand up.

National Grid issued a gas balancing alert (GBA) on Monday afternoon, only the second time that the mechanism has been used. A spokesman said the alert had already proved effective and added that bosses were again on Tuesday to decide whether to issue a further GBA.

The grid has received extra gas from a terminal in the Isle of Grain in Kent, and from Belgium and Norway.

The exceptional cold, about 6C below the seasonal norm, has raised gas demand by 30 per cent and has exposed Britain's reliance on imported fuel.

Gordon Brown has insisted the country is not facing a gas supply crisis.

"I think Britain can deal with these problems," he said.

"There are always difficulties when we have a long spell of bad weather. But we can cope."

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