The Met Office has issued warnings of snow and ice across parts of England, with up to 5cm (2in) of snow expected in the South West, including Devon and Cornwall, and up to 10cm (4in) on higher ground. An amber warning is in place for the Bristol area and surrounding regions.
Icy conditions have already caused significant disruption, with train and flight cancellations reported. Hundreds of schools remain closed as further snowfall is predicted in the South West and North East. The A38(M) Aston Expressway in Birmingham was closed due to ice, and several other major roads, including parts of the A57 and A68, have been shut.
Emergency services in Devon attended a serious crash on the A38 near Plymouth, where a man is critically ill after multiple vehicles spun off the road. Police believe freezing conditions may have been a contributory factor and urged motorists to slow down. In a separate incident, a man died after his car left the road and hit a tree on the A12 in Essex.
Elsewhere, tributes have been paid to postman John Bircham, 57, who collapsed and died while delivering mail in thick snow on Exmoor. In Middlesbrough, a teenager remains critically ill after a sledging accident. A church in Cornwall was struck by lightning, causing structural damage.
Eurostar cancelled some services due to speed restrictions, while other rail operators reported cancellations and delays. Heathrow Airport remained operational but warned of disruption due to weather elsewhere. The Highways Agency said its fleet of snow ploughs and salt spreaders would continue treating roads, with over one million miles already covered.
