UK weather: Snow and ice across country causes major travel disruption - as it happened
The frosty conditions have already led to car crashes and flight cancellations
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Treacherous conditions on Britain’s roads led to car accidents and travel disruptions as heavy snow fell overnight across the UK.
Crashes were reported as drivers were warned to take extra care during the morning rush hour. Snow and ice caused difficult conditions on the roads, particularly in northern areas.
This week is set to be one of the coldest of the year so far – temperatures are set to drop even further overnight, with parts of Scotland and Northern England possibly falling to -11C.
Flights have also been affected, with more than 70 cancelled yesterday and more disruptions expected today.
A multi-vehicle collision on the icy M5 near Stroud has been reported by Gloucestershire Police. Meanwhile, two lorries got stuck on the A6075 between Kirton and Walesby according to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
This live blog is now closed.
Welcome to our live weather and travel updates. We will be bringing you the latest information throughout the day as snow and ice spread across the country and temperatures fall even further.
A number of vehicles were involved in collisions on the M5 early this morning, lorries were stuck on the A6075, and a road was closed in the Isle of Man due to snow.
Read more about this morning's travel chaos here.
Here is the latest weather update from the Met Office. Southwestern parts of the UK are currently seeing the worst of the winter weather, with sleet and snow. Temperatures are a few degrees above freezing across much of the country.
Parts of the UK woke up to snowy scenes this morning, including Edinburgh in Scotland, as pictured below.
The Met Office has said today people in Wales, southwest and central England can expect sleet and snow. Heavy snow showers are also expected to hit western and northwestern parts of the country as the day goes on.
It is predicted to be dryer, with sunny spells today in the southeast. (Photo: Bash Ahmed, Edinburgh)
British Airways cancelled a number of short haul flights in anticipation of difficult weather conditions.
More than 70 flights from Heathrow were cancelled yesterday and around 10 more have been cancelled today.
Read more about the flight cancellations here, with reports from The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder.
For the latest flight information, including all delays and cancellations, see updates from British Airways.
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There are severe delays on the M5 southbound following an accident amid icy conditions.
Highways England have warned people to expect their journey on this road to take longer than usual.
They said that the crash, which took place this morning at around 6am, involved an HGV.
Two lanes were closed for some time during this morning's rush hour, as Gloucestershire's emergency services attended.
They have now reopened.
The Met Office have updated a weather warning, which is in place until 10am tomorrow.
The warning no longer covers the northwest of England, which means this area is deemed less likely to be hit by snow, sleet and hail during this time.
A number schools are closed in Wales today due to heavy snow.
Many schools in Gwynned are closed, according to the council.
These are: Ysgol Waunfawr in Waunfawr, Ysgol Crud y Werin in Aberdaron, Ysgol Yr Eifl in Trefor, Ysgol Pont y Gôf in Botwnnog, Ysgol Sarn Bach in Sarn Bach, Ysgol Hafod Lon in Penrhyndeudraeth, Ysgol Rhosgadfan in Rhosgadfan, Ysgol Edern in Edern, Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon and Ysgol Botwnnog in Botwnnog.
There are also a few school closures across Anglesey, Ceredigion and Conwy.
Parts of Wales are covered by the Met Office's weather warnings until 10am tomorrow.
To check if your child's school is open today, search for the name of the school on the government's school closure listings.
Even the beaches have seen a frosting of snow in parts of Scotland, such as these scenes on the coast of Fife.
It may seem cold now, but according to the Met Office it has been even colder with even more snow, on this day in history.
It was all part of 1963's 'Big Freeze', when temperatures dropped to double negatives across parts of the country.
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