Big shiver's here to stay

Much of the country may have had just a few flurries so far but forecasters predict heavy snowfalls in coming days, with treacherous driving conditions and transport chaos.

The Met Office yesterday issued severe weather warnings for most of Britain while Transport for London said commuters should travel to work only if it was 'absolutely necessary'.

Snow showers are predicted today in South-East England - where a further 5cm could fall - North-East England and South-East Scotland.

Temperatures are likely to hover around 1°C to 4°C, although thermometers might not get above freezing in some places. Tomorrow more persistent snow will fall, bringing a 70 per cent chance of disruption to the South-East. The RAC said breakdown calls had doubled in some areas with motorists unable to start cars or getting stuck in snowdrifts.

Train services have been disrupted although Network Rail has been de-icing trains and placing heaters on vulnerable points.

British Gas is on high alert. In Lancashire, engineer Allan Rushton answered emergency calls from villagers on skis.

The cold snap is due to high pressure over Scandinavia and low pressure over the Atlantic.

It has also affected large parts of continental Europe, with snowfalls affecting even southern France and parts of central Italy.