Severe weather warnings as heavy snow forecast

Warnings of sub-zero temperatures came as the big chill brought parts of the country to a standstill after the earliest widespread snow for 17 years.

London and the South East, the South West, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber and the north east of England have all alerted to widespread icy roads until 11am on Saturday by the Met Office.

The North East, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands and the South West are also braced for heavy snow.

Wales and Northern Ireland were warned to expect icy roads while Scotland was also forecast heavy snow and drifting snow as more flurries were on the way.

Even low-lying parts of the UK saw freezing temperatures on Friday, the Met Office said.

Dozens of schools were closed and many roads were impassable, and a plane from Lanzarote with 196 passengers on board overshot its landing at Newcastle airport.

Though Scotland and the north east of England once again bore the brunt of the bad weather - with dumps of up to 30cm recorded in the Highlands and North Yorkshire - snow was also drifting across Wales and the South West.

Forecasters say the cold snap was set to tighten its grip, blanketing swathes of the country in white by the middle of next week.