AS the bitter cold sets in, outdoor workers in and around Swansea have given their advice on keeping warm.

The daytime temperature in the city has plummeted from a bearable 8 degrees C for most of last week to a teeth-chattering minus 4 degrees C predicted today.

Christopher Curtis, 29, owner of C&V Scaffolding in Port Talbot said the key was simple — wear as many layers as possible.

"I pick up the boys in the van at around 7am and by 8am we are on site," said Christopher, who lives on Port Talbot's Sandfields estate.

"Recently it's been absolutely bitter. I wear two T-shirts, a hoodie, a hat, and gloves, as a minimum."

But he said he had a secret weapon up his sleeve — or, rather, on his feet.

"I used to work in the steelworks and they give all the staff fireproof socks," he said. "When I left I kept them, and because they are so thick they keep you warm."

"I also make sure I get a nice warm breakfast in me every day."

While thick clothes and warm food are all very well for dealing with the cold snap, golf course worker Cerith Jones said that was no use unless you kept active.

"If you're not doing anything then your feet get cold very quickly," said the 31-year-old Brynaman man, who takes care of the green at Garnant Golf Club.

"As long as you keep going, even plodding along, you will warm up. I don't drink tea or coffee, but one of the other boys who works here has a flask and that seems to do the trick.

"We start at 7.30am when it's still dark, so it's easy to get cold quickly."

One job, which for thousands of years has demanded outdoor work from very early in the morning, is farming.

Gerwyn Williams, 62, has a cattle farm in Llandyfan, near Llandybie.

"I get up at 6am and feed the cattle," he said. "Then I go and see to the sheep. It's got really cold recently and I'm not expecting it to get too much better until at least March, possibly April."

Despite this gloomy prediction the temperature in Swansea is set to hit 6 degrees C or 7 degrees C next week, though the forecast predicts rain over the weekend.

alex.smith@swwmedia.co.uk