UK endures more horrendous weather

The cold snap has continued to hit communities and travel across the UK, with heavy snow having wreaked havoc across the transport network.

Thousands experienced delays on roads, railways and airport runways. Communities were also hit by power cuts, with power lines being brought down in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England, leaving thousands without electricity.

Runways at some airports closed temporarily, including Humberside airport, Leeds Bradford airport and Doncaster's Robin Hood airport, while motorists have been urged by the Highways Agency to be cautious and check conditions before setting out.

In Cumbria, where 70 people were stranded in their cars overnight, drivers were warned not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary.

The British Red Cross was brought in to help transport medical staff and patients to hospitals after roads in North Wales became impassable. Hospital staff, paramedics and renal patients were driven to hospital in the Wrexham and Flintshire areas by volunteers using 4x4 vehicles to negotiate treacherous roads.

Northern Ireland Electricity said 29,000 homes were still waiting to be reconnected - and it could be days before they all have power. About 1,000 homes in Northern Ireland were also without water on Saturday evening.

In Scotland, about 5,000 homes in Kintyre are without power, with a further 1,500 homes in the north and west of Arran also without supply.

Many sports fixtures, including Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Russia and two race meetings, were called off due to snow.

Forecasters said while there was a covering of snow in many areas, Yorkshire bore the brunt of some of the heaviest snowfall. Bingley, in West Yorkshire, recorded 28cm (11 inches) during the day, according to Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association.

The conditions led the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for widespread parts of the country, urging people to be aware of adverse conditions.