
Hundreds of schools across Britain are closed today as the 'Mini Beast From The East' continues to wreak havoc, with more problems on the way tonight as temperatures drop to -6C (21F).

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the whole of England and Wales tonight, alerting the public to ice on untreated roads that are left wet after snow melts today, or partly melted snow refreezes.

Forecasters have warned that between 7pm tonight and 9am tomorrow there will be an increased 'risk of accidents, as well as injuries from slips and falls', while there could be further wintry showers overnight.

And more of the white stuff could be on the way for Easter, with the Met Office warning of 'wetter weather more probable in the south and with drier, colder conditions in the north albeit with a risk of snow at times'.

Overnight, the A30 in Devon was hit by 'significant snow', with conditions 'changing rapidly from passable to impossible' - and 64 miles of road between the M5 at Exeter and the A38 at Bodmin were shut as a result.

A stunning white landscape is pictured this morning covering Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch on the Dorset coast

Snowploughs on the A30 near Okehampton in Devon this morning after the area was hit by 'significant snow' overnight

A robin stands on a snowy fence in Emmer Green, Berkshire, as the country returns to work after a weekend of wintry weather

Newly-married couple Sara and John Lund had to stay at Okehampton College in Devon after getting stuck in the snow

A car is driven along a wintry road near Okehampton in Devon today, after the A30 was hit by 'significant snow' overnight

Donkeys look for protection from the freezing weather still lingering in the New Forest in Hampshire this morning

Fields are covered with ice and snow on a bitterly cold morning in the Oxfordshire countryside today

The car park at the Emergency Rest Centre in at Okehampton College in Devon - where the stuck motorists were moved

A man rides a horse through Hyde Park in London this morning following a further light snowfall in the capital overnight

This interactive tool details which schools across the UK will be closed today. Enter your local council area to find out if your child's school is closed today.

The chaos saw 82 people - including a newlywed couple on their wedding night – forced to sleep in a rest centre at Okehampton College at the north side of Dartmoor after they found themselves stuck on the A30.

Hundreds of schools across Britain have been closed today, with GCSE pupils at Brynmawr School in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, being taught in a cinema instead after their normal site was closed.

SCHOOL CLOSURES Devon County Council's website said that all but four of 307 schools were closed. The four were listed as 'partially closed'. Cornwall Council said 97 schools were closed, with 51 opening late due to the weather. Somerset County Council had 163 schools listed as closed, just three as open and 28 as partially open. There are also 171 schools closed in Wales today. Advertisement

Sara and John Lund were among 82 people who got stuck on the A30 in Devon on Sunday night. The newlyweds were forced to stay at Okehampton College on the north side of Dartmoor. Mrs Lund said: 'Sleeping on the floor with a medical blanket and a few coats - it hasn't been the most romantic night at all.'

The couple had been on their way from their reception just outside Bristol to their honeymoon in Watergate Bay, Cornwall, but could not drive any further after hitting treacherous weather conditions in Devon.

Mrs Lund said they were lucky to make it to the rest centre but would never forget their wedding night. 'I think we were one of the lucky ones,' she said. 'I think quite a few other people were stranded in their cars.

'We were lucky that we managed to get off the road and into Okehampton College. There are a lot of people doing a lot of work and food being provided. At least it's warm and we're inside.'

Mrs Lund said morale was high but it had not been the most intimate start to their married life together.

Richard White, volunteer rest centre manager at Okehampton College, said spirits were high among the residents despite their dramatic evening.

He said: 'We first of all provide them with something hot to drink and we've got blankets, duvets. We make sure people get a good night's sleep, we feed them in the morning and weather-permitting, we prepare them to get back in their cars and on their way.

We'll gradually say goodbye to the really #cold weather this week, but a powerful #jetstream could bring some wet and very windy weather by Friday pic.twitter.com/98nCzeJvRx — Met Office (@metoffice) March 18, 2018 Fed up of the #cold? Fancy something a little milder? (less cold at least!) Here's all you need to know about next week's #weather in just over a minute! pic.twitter.com/B0Fzkk293y — Met Office (@metoffice) March 18, 2018

This satellite image taken today has been enhanced to show areas of lying snow across the UK in orange

Tea and sympathy! Anna Friel offers hot drinks to police officers dealing with car crash in icy conditions Actress Anna Friel offered tea and sympathy to police officers who ended up outside her home dealing with a car that had spun off the road in icy weather conditions. Friel walked out of her town house with steaming mugs of hot tea and a packet of biscuits for the officers as temperatures plummeted to below freezing overnight. The 41-year-old dressed casually in a cream Aran-style jumper and skinny trousers with her hair swiped up in a messy pony tail, opened the door to the Thames Valley Police officers in Windsor yesterday. Actress Anna Friel offered mugs of tea to police officers dealing with a car crash outside her home in Windsor in icy weather conditions Ms Friel, who has a four storey-town house in the Berkshire town, was currently on television screens playing a former London detective Marcella Buckland in the second series of the crime noir. She came to the rescue of PC Housby and PC Morgan who posted they were 'treated to a lovely cup of tea and some biscuits by Anna Friel after a car span on the ice near her house. 'Fortunately, there was only damage to the car but Anna came out to assist in the freezing cold whilst the officers waited for the recovery to remove the car. Many thanks for the kind words Anna and the goodies for our officers!' Friel took to social media and said: 'This is why we pay our taxes. These guys were phenomenal. About to go to bed and hear a smash outside my front door. 'The emergency services were here in four mins. The roads hadn't been gritted. All involved in this instance were okay, thank goodness. Note: Be kind to those that are ready to help; even if you are not involved #realpolice.' A spokesman for Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said the road was a primary route and had been gritted. Advertisement

'Police want everybody off the roads to give them the opportunity to clear the roads with the snow ploughs and the gritters in time for the morning.'

FLIGHTS CANCELLED A number of flights have been cancelled up and down the UK this morning. Here is the full list: HEATHROW AIRPORT 07:00 UA9735: United Airlines flight to Geneva 07:00 LX359: Swiss International Airlines flight to Geneva 07:30 AC5337: Air Canada flight to Washington 07:30 LH9226: Lufthansa flight to Washington 07:30 UA123: United Airlines flight to Washington 07:30 OS7803: Austrian flight to Washington MANCHESTER AIRPORT 08:35 EK4169 Emirates flight to Exeter 08:35 EY6089 Etihad Airways to Exeter 08:35 Exeter CX9329 Cathay Pacific flight to Exeter 08:35 BE372 Flybe flight to Exeter 08:40 EK4201 Emirates flight to Southampton 08:40 BE862 Flybe flight to Southampton 08:40 EY6131 Etihad flight to Southampton 08:50 GR671 Aurigny flight to Guernsey Advertisement

Speaking of the mood inside the centre, he said: 'It is people coming together, it's the community working not for the benefit of each other, but for the whole community. It's a lovely atmosphere we've got, it's a fantastic atmosphere here and we make the most of it.'

Highways England has advised motorists wanting to travel on the A30 to instead use the A38 between Exeter and Bodmin.

The Met Office said further snow was likely across parts of the south-west of England today, with a few light snow showers for other southern counties for a time.

Forecasters painted a better picture for the rest of the day, with drier and brighter weather on the horizon for much of the country, but warned it will still feel particularly cold due to the wind chill.

The rest of the week is gradually set to turn less cold, turning wet and windy as the week progresses.

Met Office meteorologist John West said: 'It's been a very, very cold night overnight with widespread frost. A lot of the lying snow seen across the country over the weekend has created some icy stretches this morning.

'In the South West, we've seen a constant flow of snow coming in from the English Channel with snow depths going up and up.

'In Exeter, we have at least 10cm (4in) of snow lying at the moment. Many routes towards Dartmoor and Exmoor have the potential to see a lot of disruption because of ice this morning.'

Mr West added: 'Through the course of the day today, much of the country will experience a fine and dry day. We're sort of closing the door to the the cold easterly flow and temperatures will be less cold than we've seen over the weekend.

'We could see highs of 5C (41F) or 6C (43F) but add some wind chill on there and it won't feel very pleasant at all.

'However there will be some decent, fine weather, plenty of sunshine around today, particularly in northern parts, and a bit of an improvement from what we've seen over the weekend.'

'However there will be some decent, fine weather, plenty of sunshine around today, particularly in northern parts, and a bit of an improvement from what we've seen over the weekend.'

Heavy snow overnight has cut off several villages and towns in North Devon, with drifts up to six foot high

The heavy snow left some vehicles stranded near Ilfracombe at Mullacott Cross in Devon today

Heavy snow drifts can be seen in North Devon today after the white stuff left some communities cut off

A bus stop is covered in snow today after the drifts left vehicles stranded at Ilfracombe in Devon today

Teigngrace in Devon woke up to a heavy covering of snow this morning, with more continuing to fall throughout the day

Motorists wanting to travel on the A30 sould use the A38 between Exeter and Bodmin. Pictured: Vehicles near Okehampton

Motorists in Devon were pictured this morning making their way along the treacherous snow-covered and icy roads

Police said it was a 'miracle' that nobody was killed when a 40-tonne juggernaut lorry skidded off a bridge in Oxford today

Forecasters said further snow was likely across parts of South West England. Pictured: A road near Okehampton in Devon

Tavistock Police warned people of the dangers on Twitter, after spending some 90 minutes digging their 4x4 out of the snow

And the seaside resort of Ilfracombe has been 'cut off' due to heavy snow, Devon County Council said. It tweeted: 'Wind has picked up on the north coast and the snow is drifting badly, Ilfracombe is currently cut off, we have two gritters and ploughs on route to clear.'

Met Office ice warning (7pm today to 9am tomorrow) After a clear start in many areas with the temperature falling below freezing through Monday evening, it will turn cloudier from the north, with the possibility of some wintry showers in places. The temperature may come back above freezing in some places for a time, but will fall below again where the cloud breaks. Therefore, ice is likely to form where untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths are left wet after snow melts during the day, or partly melted snow refreezes, and where wintry showers occur overnight. Advertisement

Sergeant Dave Thubron, of Devon and Cornwall Police, tweeted: 'We have multiple vehicles stuck in deep drifts in and around Mullacott Cross at Ilfracombe.

'Although it's clear in Ilfracombe it's a very very different story 200ft higher. Please heed our warnings and don't add to the queue.'

Police in Tavistock, Devon, said officers spent 90 minutes digging their Land Rover Defender out of a snowdrift. Yesterday, ice led to delays and cancellations at Gatwick Airport - with 37 flights axed.

Meanwhile a four-year-old girl is fighting for her life today after the car she was in skidded on ice and hit a tree as fresh snowfalls hit the Lake District on Saturday evening.

The girl had been travelling with a four-year-old boy in the back of a Ford Fiesta from Windermere to Kendal in Cumbria, before it left the A591 on Saturday at about 6.45pm in poor weather and collided into trees and a ditch.

The boy sustained minor injuries, but the girl was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary and then transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool where her condition is described as 'critical'.

The coldest temperature recorded over the weekend was -6.2C (21F) at Baltasound on Unst in Shetland yesterday - even lower than the Saturday UK minimum of -3.4C (26F) at Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

A third of power from wind as UK hits new 'green' highs The amount of wind power generated in Britain reached new record highs on Saturday as the 'mini Beast from the East' swept in, National Grid has confirmed. The new 'green' record on St Patrick's Day saw onshore and offshore wind turbines generate more than a third of British electricity, as it delivered 14.2 gigawatts of power at 2.30pm in the stormy conditions. The figure is well above the previous record of 13.9 gigawatts of electricity from wind. It meant that wind power was supplying 34.2 per cent of British electricity at that time, while over the day as a whole the renewable technology accounted for some 35.7 per cent of supplies. National Grid said the increase in renewable generation posed an 'exciting challenge' for the system operator in balancing supply and demand. Fintan Slye, director of the system operator at National Grid said: 'We now have significant volumes of renewable energy on the system and as this trend continues, our ability to forecast and manage this is becoming more and more important. 'We have an expert team of forecasters, analysts and engineers who monitor a range of data, to forecast just how much electricity will be needed by consumers and how this is matched by generation available from renewable and other sources.' He added: '2017 was a record year for green energy and it's looking likely 2018 is set to exceed that. We are excited about the progress being made and looking forward to ensuring it is delivered safely and securely to our customers across Great Britain.' Wind industry body RenewableUK's executive director Emma Pinchbeck said: 'Yet again, wind is playing a key role in keeping Britain going during a cold spell. When the mini Beast from the East struck on Saturday, over a third of the UK's electricity was being generated by wind. 'We're harnessing a reliable, home-grown source of power which reduces our dependence on imports to maintain the security of our energy supplies.' Advertisement

Bouncing babies and some VERY snowy walks: MailOnline readers share their fun snaps of the weather

As large parts of the UK wake up to snowy scenes, MailOnline readers have been braving the cold to capture it on camera.

Here we round up some of the best - from babies and wedding parties to dogs, sheep and rabbits bouncing through the snow.

As large parts of the UK wake up to snowy scenes this morning, MailOnline readers have been braving the cold to capture it on camera. This bouncing baby was out playing with her 'snowmobile' in Windsor this morning

This bunny has got the right idea hiding away from the snow this morning as a thick blanket is left across most of the UK

Peter Lopeman sent in this hilarious picture of a group of groomsmen at a snowy wedding in Northfield, Birmingham

Mia from Romsey, Hampshire sent us this picture of her children playing in the snow on their sledges on Sunday

Skiing in Surrey? This man and woman skied as opposed to hiked around Clandon Golf Course in Guilford, Surrey

Clandon Golf Course in Guilford, Surrey is carpeted in thick white powder as people take selfies, sledge and walk dogs

Adi Keefe sent in this stunning snap of Portishead Marina in Bristol covered in snow against misty skies on Sunday

This adorable pooch 'Barney the bear' was pictured in the snow in North London today after it blanketed the capital

Sharron Smith's dog was leaping for joy when he woke up to the sight of the snow in Leicestershire this morning

This mother sheep was pictured kissing her lamb in an adorable snap from Congresbury in Bristol this afternoon

Don't forgot those snow boots! Katie sent in this picture of her son making snow angels in Leeds on Sunday afternoon

Lucy Collis spotted these daffodils covered in snow after the Mini Beast from the East left white across the country

Confused? These daffodils are usually associated with spring but were covered in snow in Malton, Yorkshire today

Spring or Siberia? Flowers are pictured covered in a blanket of snow in Somerset today amid the Mini Beast from the Eas

Tamsyn Hewstone sent us this stunning picture of a snow-covered scene in Devon, which has been swamped today

Trip to the garden centre anyone? Michele Fearn decided to brave conditions in Farnham, Surrey and sent us this picture

Carolyn Butler sent in this snowy snap from Devon where an Amber weather warning threatens to cut out power on Sunday

Another picture from Carolyn Butler shows miles and miles of untouched snowy fields in Devon on Sunday

Snow you see them snow you don't! A flock of sheep are rendered almost invisible as they graze in the Peak District today

Rachel sent us this picture from Litton in the Peak District where over a foot over snow covers some fields