Snow chaos hits Shropshire and Mid Wales

Snow and freezing conditions have forced the scrapping of a string events across Shropshire and Mid Wales today as the region began to buckle under Britain's Big Freeze.

More snow overnight and plunging temperatures once again forced a string of school closures and also hit the roads, with traffic reduced to a crawl as gritters battled to keep the main arteries open.

The mercury sank to -3C (27F) at the Met Office weather station at RAF Shawbury early today and more of the same is on the cards.

The picture was the same across the country, with hundreds of motorists were left stranded overnight.

One of the worst hit areas was Kent, with ice and snow causing hazardous driving conditions and congestion throughout the early hours.

In north Shropshire, commuters had to drive with extra care along main routes like the A53 Hodnet bypass where fresh snowfalls quickly covered the roads.

Heavy snow blanketed all of Mid Wales with falls of up to two inches and even more on higher ground.

Shropshire golfer Jonathan Gidney, who plays at Church Stretton Golf Club, was forced to postpone a charity fundraising event this Sunday when he planned to complete 18 holes at Astbury Hall near Bridgnorth wearing a skirt.

He was also to have been joined on the course by Judas Priest rocker KK Downing but the event has now been postponed until April.

A concert featuring Shrewsbury Police Choir and Dyffryn Ceiriog Choir due to be held at All Saints Church, Gobowen, on Saturday, was also postponed until next April because of the weather.

The Telford and District Diabetes Christmas Party, at Ketley's Methodist Church, scheduled to take place at 7.30pm tonight was also cancelled.

Norbury Playgroup at the Norbury Village Hall from 10am until noon was scrapped while Bicton and Oxon Women's Institute meeting at 7.30pm also fell victim to the conditions.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust's tree planting event at Nipstone on the Stiperstones this Sunday has also been cancelled.

British Waterways, meanwhile, called on everyone who used its towpaths in Mid Wales to take extra care in the widespread ice and snow.

The organisation also warned revellers to stay safe when near the water with the Christmas party season getting into full swing.

Elsewhere temperatures fell as low as nearly minus 20C in the Scottish Highlands overnight — minus 19.8C was recorded in Altnaharra — and thousands of children were expected to stay at home again due to school closures. Forecasters warned that the onslaught of Arctic weather will not show signs of letting up until Friday.

Met Office forecaster David Price said: "It will remain bitterly cold today with the strong north-easterly winds continuing to bring snow showers and making temperatures feel as low as minus six or seven degrees."

Mr Price predicted that an average of between 0.8in (2cm) and 2in (5cm) of snow will fall across the UK today, with 4in (10cm) to 6in (15cm) falling in higher areas.

Temperatures are also expected to struggle to get past freezing, with maximums of just 2C. He said the snowy conditions will continue throughout tomorrow, adding to the existing levels that have accumulated over the past week."

"On Friday we should expect a reprieve from the showers. However, it will remain extremely cold and the snow will be back over the weekend," added the weather expert.

Severe weather warnings were in place for the whole of Scotland today, with widespread icy roads and heavy snow expected in central and south westerly areas.

Warnings were also in place for northern England, the south coast and parts of Wales.

Gemma Plumb, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said snow drifts were reported in East Anglia and Suffolk this morning as a result of the strong winds.

Gatwick Airport was closed today with all departures and arrivals halted until further notice. Airport spokeswoman Sarah Baranowski said the runway was closed at 10.30pm last night and ground staff working throughout the night had not been able to clear the settling snow.

"It is vital that passengers do not make their way to the airport and check our website and with their airline for updates," she said.

"We need to make sure the runway is safe before all flights can recommence but the snow has not stopped all night. "It is not known when the airport will reopen.

An updated statement on Gatwick Airport website said the runway would remain closed for snow clearance until at least 11am.

"Due to the current weather conditions, all departing and arriving flights at Gatwick are severely disrupted," it said.

"The runway will remain closed for snow clearance until at least 11.00.

"Passengers should not set out for the airport and should check directly with their airline for the latest information.

"Edinburgh Airport also closed due to heavy snow showers overnight. A statement on the airport website said it was expected to reopen at 6pm. Yesterday, commuters worked from home, thousands of children could not go to school and motorists faced travel chaos as a number of roads were impassable. Hundreds of motorists were left stranded overnight as the weather conditions disrupted road networks. One of the worst hit areas was Kent, with ice and snow causing hazardous driving conditions and congestion throughout the early hours.

Driving conditions were described as hazardous with the AA receiving an average of 1,350 calls an hour. The RAC said callouts to breakdowns peaked at 2,000 an hour.

London was the worst area affected yesterday, with more breakdowns than any other part of the UK. Insurer RSA estimated that the freezing weather conditions could cost the UK economy up to £1.2 billion a day, with retailers and the restaurant and bar industries likely to be the worst affected.

RSA director David Greaves said: "Bad weather in the run-up to Christmas will have a major impact on the UK's economy and could lead to significant losses for already struggling businesses." But Halfords said an additional 16,600 sledges were being shipped in from across the globe to meet the demand of excited children.