UK weather: Schools closed and flights cancelled - with more snow to come

Schools have been closed and flights cancelled after snow fell across parts of the UK, with more forecast to arrive on Wednesday.

The Met Office has warned that there is even colder weather to come after wintry conditions hit northern and southern regions on Tuesday, with millions waking up to subzero temperatures this morning.

More snow is expected in coastal areas throughout the day - with a yellow severe warning in place for ice on roads, pavements and cycle paths for much of the country until 11am.

In Buckinghamshire, several schools are closed for the day and others are opening later as a result of the disruptive conditions, although local bus routes have mostly returned to normal.

But problems remain on other transport services, including rush-hour trains.

Greater Anglia Rail has advised customers that trains will be running with speed restrictions between Hackney Downs and Cambridge and services may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes, or revised.

And because of ice cutting off electricity from the trains, Merseyrail has had to cancel several services between Aintree and Ormskirk, Hooton and Ellesmere Port, and Hooton and Chester.

Other Merseyrail lines are running, but passengers have been warned to expect severe delays and further cancellations.

In nearby Manchester, hundreds of passengers faced travel issues after flights were cancelled at the city's airport.

Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stornoway airports also faced delays, with temperatures in Aberdeenshire plummeting to -5C (23F).

Further north, conditions in Scotland have been described as "Baltic".

Highways England warned it was snowing "quite heavily" on the M62 transpennine route, but there were efforts to keep the roads open on Tuesday, and a fleet of 32 gritters has been out in southwest Scotland.

The Met Office has Northern Ireland saw "some significant accumulations" on Tuesday, which later on "pushed across Wales, central parts of England and towards the South East".

While more sunshine is expected on Wednesday, it will still be one of the coldest days of the week - especially outside major cities.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said parts of Scotland could drop as low as -9C (16F) or -10C (14F).

Fortunately, Thursday will be milder in places.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "Wednesday looks mostly sunny and dry, but northern, eastern and western coastal areas will see wintry showers.

"Wales, South West England, East Anglia, Kent and northern and western Scotland look most at risk. More prolonged rain will move across Ireland later.

"Thursday looks wet in the milder west, with snow possible on the hills, but the cold east will be mainly fine. Friday will be milder overall, with some rain around, but it will turn cold and showery again over the weekend."

Europe has also faced plenty of snowfall this week, with the Eiffel Tower in Paris closing due to the adverse weather conditions.

National weather agency Meteo France said a large part of France remained on alert for dangerous levels of snow and urged people to limit their movement.

Parts of Germany and Belgium have also continued to experience snowfall.