
Rescue operations were launched across the country this morning as drivers found themselves trapped on motorways caught in Storm Emma's snow drifts.

Devon and Cornwall police have launched a major rescue mission after 300 drivers became trapped in sub-zero temperatures as the storm claimed 10 lives.

About 100 vehicles were stuck in snow on the A303 at Ilminster, Somerset, where police and rescue teams were deployed to save those stranded.

Hampshire Police had to enlist military help as drivers were trapped on the A31 due to the traffic build-up. The South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust was forced to appeal for help from 4x4 owners to move its staff around in the adverse conditions.

Drivers had been urged by transport authorities to consider whether they needed to embark on journeys after the RAC attended 8,000 breakouts as of 5pm.

Britain also faces running out of gas as the intense demand caused by plunging temperatures outstrips supply across the country on what has been the coldest day in March since records began in 1959.

National Grid, the operator of the gas pipeline network, has issued a 'gas deficit warning' as the nation ramps up the thermostats while Storm Emma batters the coast, combining with the Beast from the East to bring sub-zero weather, icy blasts and 'blizzard-like' conditions.

More than 500 flights have been cancelled in England and Scotland so far, including 157 at London Heathrow, 129 at Edinburgh, 77 at London Gatwick, 67 at London City and 48 at Bristol. A further 194 were cancelled at Dublin.

Traffic at a standstill on the M27 near Southampton following a crash yesterday that saw saw cars backing up the motorway

This tree fell on the M6 in Lancashire, where a car crashed. Police who tweeted the picture say that fortunately there were no injuries

A major emergency is declared in Cornwall as Storm Emma continues to cause chaos with traffic pictured here queued on the A30

Pictured: A tractor hauls piles of snow in Kent yesterday as it attempts to clear a road laden with 8ft drifts of the white stuff

A snow-covered woman smiles in Balloch as the 'Beast from the East' combines with Storm Emma yesterday

The Met Office has put England under an unprecedented red warning for snow, amid concerns that up to 1ft 8in could fall in the South West. At Glasgow Airport, British Red Cross workers provided blankets for stranded people.

About 1,000 vehicles were stuck on the M80 last night and cars had to be cleared by the Scottish authorities this morning as drivers were stranded again in snow last night as the M4 has come to a standstill between Coldra and Brynglas in South Wales. By 5pm this afternoon the RAC had attended 8,000 breakdowns across the UK - which was 70 per cent more than expected in early March.

The Environment Agency has activated five flood warnings urging the public to take ‘immediate action’, with two in Cornwall, one at Swanage in Dorset, and others for the Tyne Estuary and one for the North Sea at Whitley Bay.

Another 16 flood alerts telling people to ‘be prepared’ have been issued across South West and North East England, with officials warning of wave overtopping due to strong winds combined with high tides.

Police officers were called to attend this crash on the M27 as snow made driving near Southampton more difficult than usual

Manchester firefighters shared this picture of a smashed up car today as the weather causes adverse conditions for drivers in the north-west

A multi-car accident in the snow today has caused chaos on the M66 between Ramsbottom and Bury in Greater Manchester

All lanes have ground to a halt on the southbound carriageway of the motorway between Ramsbottom and Bury

There were 20 collisions on a small section of the A19 in the space of an hour, Durham Police said. An 11-vehicle collision closed the southbound carriageway at Castle Eden, with a separate crash shutting it northbound north of Easington

Two male teenagers were taken to hospital after they were trapped under a fallen conifer tree in Blackley, Manchester.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines and a rescue unit were called to the scene in shortly after 2.10pm. Firefighters used a chainsaw and cutting gear to release the pair who suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The M27 has been shut near Southampton after police attended the scene of a crash on the motorway. Major roads in Devon have come to a standstill with the M5 southbound blocked along with the A30 in both directions at Okehampton, A38 eastbound, the A380 and Telegraph Hill, A399 Blackmoor Gate, A381 at Ipplepen and A3079 Tanners Hill according to Devon Live.

Despite the adverse weather a baby was born on the A66 in freezing conditions and is recovering well from the experience, medics said.

Sienna Waring was delivered by her father Andrew as he tried to get her mother Daniella to hospital in terrible driving conditions. She was born near Stockton-on-Tees moments before paramedics arrived at the scene.

The Environment Agency has activated five flood warnings urging the public to take 'immediate action', with two in Cornwall, one at Swanage in Dorset, and others for the Tyne Estuary and one for the North Sea at Whitley Bay.

A further 16 flood alerts telling people to 'be prepared' have been issued across South West and North East England, with officials warning of wave overtopping due to strong winds combined with high tides.

Royal Air Force drivers from No 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron based at RAF Wittering in Peterborough have been helping the emergency services and doctors in Lincolnshire deliver aid to vulnerable people in the county.

Storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, is meeting the Beast from the East's chilly Russia air - causing further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures after the mercury fell as low as -16C (3F) last night.

On the first day of meteorological spring today, temperatures will fall to -11C (12F) in the daytime as the Met Office said 'winter is still firmly in charge across the UK' - and London Paddington station was closed due to icy platforms.

Farmer David Mallon rescuing his pregnant ewes from deep snow near Eggleston, which has cut off the County Durham town

Motorists encounter an abandoned vehicle surrounded by several feet of snow in Saddleworth.Stormy and snowy conditions continued this afternoon in Greater Manchester. Storm Emma has now met the 'beast from the east' resulting in drifting snow and misery for many motorists

The Met Office has issued red weather warnings for today (left) and tomorrow (centre) and a yellow one for Saturday (right)

Snowed in: The front door of Emily Buckle's home in Stainmore, Cumbria today, completely engulfed by snow

A man takes a photograph in front of Wells Cathedral as the forecasted snow arrives in Wells, Somerset, England. Freezing weather conditions continue as the 'Beast from the East' combines with Storm Emma coming in from the South West of Britain

Members of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards take part in a snow ball fight before the combined St David's Day celebration and pre-deployment service at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, Surrey

Sienna Waring was delivered by her father Andrew as he tried to get her mother Daniella to hospital in terrible driving conditions. She was born near Stockton-on-Tees moments before paramedics arrived at the scene

A woman struggles to walk on famously 'sunny' Weymouth beach where, today, driving, snowy winds made -3C feel more like -12C

Tomorrow meteorologists are expected to announce that today has been the coldest day in March since records began.

Okehampton in Devon was the chilliest place in the country with a temperature of -5.8C recorded this afternoon.

This replaces the previous record of -4.6C logged in Cassley, Northumberland, on March 2, 2001.

Steven Keats, from the Met Office, told MailOnline: ‘This is quite exceptional weather on numerous levels due to the longevity of the cold period. It will be quite a well-remembered week for years to come.’

He said it had been caused in part by a sudden bound of warm weather in February which reversed the jet stream for this time of year, causing a build-up of high pressure in Scandinavia but bringing unseasonably cold weather from Russia.

He said Britons would see the worst of the weather today and tomorrow but added: ‘We’re not out of the woods just yet.’

Temperatures are expected to remain cold well into next week but ice cold winds predicted over the weekend.

Storm Emma has hit North Devon, with heavy snow and blizzards starting to form. The serious weather is set to continue for the next 48 hours

Daffodils emerge through the snow on the first day of Spring in St James's Park in London, United Kingdom, as red weather warnings remain in place

A man plunges into the snow that has taken over Weymouth Beach in Dorset as freezing temperatures continue to hit the UK

Families enjoy sledging as in Balloch Park as schools remain off across the country on March 1, 2018 in Balloch, Scotland. Freezing weather conditions dubbed the Beast from the East combines with Storm Emma coming in from the South West of Britain to bring further snow and sub-zero temperatures

Storm clouds gather over Dublin Bay in the Republic of Ireland today as Storm Emma meets the Beast from the East

Crowds flocked with their sledges to the Town Moor in Newcastle city centre today to make the most of the wintry weather

The Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team who cover the Peak District are went to check on an overturned vehicle today

Commuters are battered by snow in Edinburgh today as the Scottish capital faces a red Met Office weather warning and, right, the M5 faces heavy congestion

More than 750 schools across Britain have been closed, including 223 in Wales, 339 in Kent, 62 in East Sussex, 36 in Norfolk, 29 in North Yorkshire, 27 in Lancashire, 22 in West Yorkshire, 14 in Essex and ten in Surrey.

NHS England warned the current bout of weather could increase health risks for vulnerable patients, while Ireland also faced a red alert as it was hit by the worst snow in 35 years - with the warning active until 3pm tomorrow.

The National Grid has issued a 'gas deficit warning' as fears mount that supplies could run empty. It issued the warning in response to a series of 'significant supply losses resulting in a forecast end of day supply deficit'.

But householders across the country were urged to 'carry on cooking' by energy minister Claire Perry, who stressed that domestic supplies would not be affected by the power operator's warning.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS? What is the National Grid? The National Grid owns and operates the enormous system of pipes that transports gas around Britain, known as the National Transmission Systems. The £13.8 billion ($19.1 billion) network comprises over 4,400 miles (7,000 km) of high-pressure pipe and more than 600 above-ground installations. Its job is to balance supply and demand of gas across the country, but does not sell the fuel itself. Instead, the gas is sold to home and business owners by supplier such as British Gas, NPower and EDF energy. Is it possible to run out of gas? The UK's gas reserves are filled by its power stations as well as import pipelines from Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. To run out of gas, Britain simply has to cross the so-called 'margin' - the difference between peak demand and available supply from these sources. If it gets too low, National Grid can issue warnings to generators to begin producing more electricity to prevent a shortfall developing. But if these warnings do not work and the margin between supply and demand reaches zero, then parts of the country could experience blackouts. What are the chances of running out of gas in the UK? As North Sea oil resources dwindle and the UK becomes increasingly reliant on gas imports, the country's chances of running out of gas will rise. It is unlikely that this will affect homeowners in the near future, as the National Grid will limit industrial use before its shortages hit the UK public. The Grid can also import more gas to top up reserves. The UK would only run out if it stopped – or was prevented from – importing any oil, gas or coal. Disaster could strike if a key gas pipeline were to burst, or if some nations stopped trading the fuel with Britain. Will it actually happen? According to the National Grid’s forecast, there is a shortfall of around 50 million cubic metres this week. During the shortage, household supplies are not expected to be affected. Shortages could hit industrial users as the Grid attempts to balance supply and demand into Friday. It plans to do this by limiting industrial use and buying in more gas if necessary. Advertisement

In Leeds, a 75-year-old woman's body was found laid partially under a parked car. A police tent was put up in the snow as severe weather continued, but officers said the death did not appear to be suspicious. It came as:

Drivers on the M80 near Glasgow were stranded for up to 13 hours last night as others abandoned vehicles;

National Grid warned of a gas shortfall of around 50 million cubic metres which could hit industrial users;

London Paddington train station was closed today due to icy platforms with trains only going to Reading;

Police said 'most roads' in Lincolnshire were impassable and even snowploughs could not get through;

Conditions could worsen in Britain with 60mph gusts from Storm Emma bringing 'blizzard-like' weather.

The Met Office red snow alert for England and Wales issued this morning - which stretches from north of Cardiff to south of Exeter - is active from 3pm today to 2am tomorrow.

A Sumatran tiger enjoys the snow in their Tiger Territory home at ZSL London Zoo at Regent's Park in the capital today

An ice climber on Kinder Downfall in the Peak District today as some people embrace the severe conditions hitting the UK

John Parks (right) joins Tynemouth Lodge barman Neil Duffy next to a snow sculpture outside the pub in North Tyneside

Regent's Canal in London has frozen over as the temperature stays well below zero in the capital today

Another day of travel disruption as heavy snow continues Travel across much of the UK has been made treacherous due to freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. Several road closures are in force, while trains and flights have been hit by delays and cancellations. Here are some of the latest reported issues: Roads: M27 shut near Southampton In Devon, the M5 southbound blocked along with the A30 in both directions at Okehampton, A38 eastbound, the A380 and Telegraph Hill, A399 Blackmoor Gate, A381 at Ipplepen and A3079 Tanners Hill M4 at standstill between Coldra and Brynglas in South Wales A30 in Okehampton is blocked in both directions and the A386 is also closed The A303 in Ilminster is closed in both directions between Station Road and Upottery Traffic blocked both ways on the A361 in Ilfracombe as well as the A376 A379 in Shaldon closed in both directions as is the A380 in Kennford A385 in Totnes is completely closed as is the 389, the A390 in Tavistock and the A399 at Blackmoor Gate The A3079 at Tanners Hill is closed both ways and the A38 eastbound in Heathfield has queuing traffic due to jackknifed lorry on A38 eastbound All lanes are closed on the The A1 between the A1107 and the junction with the A1068 The A19 southbound between the junctions with the A179 and the A689 has full lane closures All lanes are closed on the A31 between the junctions with the M27 and the A338 North Snow has closed the A38 westbound exit slip to the A380 and the A47 westbound and eastbound between the junctions with the A1144 north Lowestoft and the A1117 The A50 westbound between the junctions with the A516 and the A511 is closed All lanes on the A628 between the A616 and the junction with the A57 are shut The A66 westbound and eastbound between the A1 and the junction with the A685 is closed All lanes are closed on the M48 westbound at junction J1 The M6 southbound between junctions J33 and J32 is closed The M62 closed between junctions J24 and J21 The M65 closed at junction J6 as is M66 between junctions J2 and J1 Trains: All cross-border trains between England and Scotland suspended

The train provider South Eastern will run a revised timetable across the whole of its network

Southern's London Bridge to Uckfield line, Redhill to Tonbridge trains as well as coastal routes and the Redhill to Reigate will not run as scheduled

Any routes that do may be subject to last-minute cancellations

Delays, cancellations and revisions will disrupt trains across the entire Greater Anglia and Stansted Express network

Virgin Trains East Coast warns anyone travelling north of Newcastle should defer their journey

Northern says severe weather has left routes blocked, with delays and cancellations across whole network

East Midlands Trains will run a revised schedule on some of its routes Flights: London Heathrow Airport urged passengers to check with their airline before travelling Manchester Airport has cancelled 19 flights tomorrow to London Heathrow, Shannon and Dublin Ryanair expects delays and cancellations at East Midlands Airport on Friday Advertisement

It states: 'A spell of heavy snow and blizzard conditions is expected. The snow will be accompanied by very strong easterly winds, leading to severe drifting.

'Some places could also see significant ice build up due to freezing rain from later on Thursday evening, most likely in the south of the area. Long delays and cancellations of public transport seem highly likely.

'Some roads are likely to become blocked by deep snow, stranding vehicles and passengers.

Long interruptions to power supplies and other utilities are very likely to occur, along with damage to trees and other structures due to heavy snow or ice.'

Speaking about the RAF involvement in Lincolnshire, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The RAF is assisting in helping to transport health staff to hospitals and support health workers in visiting vulnerable people in the community in Lincolnshire following heavy snowfall.'

Ten 4x4 RAF vehicles and 20 personnel have been provided to carry out the support since 6am today.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned people not to travel while 'very extreme' arctic weather conditions are gripping the country - telling the public that if they did attempt a journey there was a 'significant risk' they could end up stranded.

She also sent a 'blunt' message to transport company bosses, who had continued to send drivers out on to the roads despite official warnings to avoid non-essential journeys.

Paddington station in West London was closed today, with bosses blaming 'severe weather conditions'. The major transport hub, which takes rail services from Wales and western England shut down at 8am.

With passengers stranded and the platforms blanketed by ice, Great Western Railway said trains were terminating at Reading in Berkshire, leaving commuters from the West unable to get into London some 40 miles further east.

Heathrow Express, which runs trains out of Paddington to the airport, tweeted a picture showing the white concourse.It said that staff at the station are 'working hard to clear platforms and make the station safe to reopen.'

Southern trains said that due to an 8ft icicle in a tunnel at Balcolmbe, services between Brighton and Gatwick Airport were subject to delay, although engineers were working to remove it.

Major UK airports saw many flights cancelled, including Glasgow which halted all routes until 3pm today. British Red Cross emergency response volunteers were at the airport supplying bedding for up to 100 people.

Chris Wright‏ from Edinburgh posted a picture last night of him stranded with two young children aged two and six months at Glasgow Airport.

He tweeted: 'No help, no hotels/accommodation, no place to sterilise bottles, Emirates have been an absolute disgrace. We are so disappointed with their service.

'Other airlines (are) putting up their customers and providing them with further information, providing them with an allowance for food - and all we get is 'you cannot be compensated as it is not our fault'.

'Such a poor service! Only after pushing and pushing we received some blankets from the Red Cross, over eight hours later!'

By 8.30am this morning the AA said it had already answered calls from more than 100 drivers stuck in snow, with East Anglia and the North East the worst-hit regions.

AA president Edmund King compared driving on many 'atrocious' UK roads to skating on ice rinks, and said they had added extra patrols and 4x4s to cope with the severe conditions.

He said: 'The weather is expected to get worse in many areas before it gets better, so to those debating whether or not to risk the roads, bear in mind that being able to reach your destination this morning doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to get home again later.'

Volunteer mountain rescuers helped an ambulance in South Yorkshire get a baby to hospital after a couple's car got stuck.

'The ambulance was unable to reach the family's car which had become stranded in the snow high above Penistone, due to the bad road conditions,' the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team - a volunteer service covering South Yorkshire, the Peak District and surrounding areas - said in a Facebook post.

'Fortunately, the team managed to locate the family and attend to the baby then transferred them via the team Land Rover to a clear road where a waiting ambulance was able to take them on to the hospital,' the post added.

The team also posted an image on social media of a car on its side in Hartcliff near Penistone in South Yorkshire in heavy snow, adding: 'Luckily no-one was inside, but it illustrates how bad conditions are.'

In Lincolnshire, police said the A52 had become impassable between Boston and Skegness, and warned that officers would not be able to rescue stuck drivers. Not even a snowplough could get through, the fire service said.

Lincolnshire Police have warned people that 'most roads' in the county are impassable, and urged people not to make journeys 'unless absolutely necessary'.

The force's control room tweeted that the weather was especially bad in rural areas.

He added: 'We are receiving reports that remote villages are totally cut off under 2ft of snow.'

Ten RAF vehicles are going to be used to try to take nurses and doctors to vulnerable patients in the county.

One person has been taken to hospital after a crash involving 16 vehicles on the M66 southbound between the Ramsbottom and Bury junction.

Young Jewish men walk along a snow-covered green during the annual Jewish holiday of Purim today in London in the snow

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said two fire engines and an off-road vehicle were sent to the scene at 11.25am.

Twenty injured after 16-car pile up on icy M66 near Manchester Twenty people were injured following a 16-car pile up as Storm Emma wreaked more havoc across the UK. Horrified witnesses said the M66 crash involved a number of vehicles - including a bus - on the icy motorway. Most of the 'walking wounded' were not thought to be in serious condition and were treated at the scene, but one person has been taken to hospital. All lanes have ground to a halt on the southbound road between Ramsbottom and Bury this morning. Emergency services rushed to the area hit by Storm Emma following the multi-car pile up. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said two fire engines and an off-road vehicle were sent to the scene at 11.25am. GMFRS added: 'On arrival, firefighters found the crash was involving 16 vehicles. Nobody was trapped in any of the vehicles, although paramedics have helped two people that remained in their cars with one since being taken to hospital. 'A bus is currently being used to provide shelter and care for people unable to remain in their cars. Some are being cared for by paramedics. 'The area is very busy as the road has had to be closed in both directions. Please avoid it if possible. ' Advertisement

GMFRS added: 'On arrival, firefighters found the crash was involving 16 vehicles. Nobody was trapped in any of the vehicles, although paramedics have helped two people that remained in their cars with one since being taken to hospital.

'A bus is currently being used to provide shelter and care for people unable to remain in their cars. Some are being cared for by paramedics.

'The area is very busy as the road has had to be closed in both directions. Please avoid it if possible. '

A woman gave birth on the A66 assisted by her partner amid wild conditions, the North East Ambulance Service said. He helped deliver the baby and they were then taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The ambulance service sent a double-crewed ambulance to the scene at around 9.10am, and a Great North Air Ambulance land crew also attended.

Collisions on both the north and southbound carriageways of the A34 near Tothill Services have left the road closed in both directions, South Central Ambulance Service said.

Hampshire Police urged drivers to avoid the area as the closure would be 'in place for some time'.

Meanwhile Cheshire Police said there were around eight miles of tailbacks on the M62 as officers with 4x4s, Highways England patrols, contractors and snow ploughs attempted to clear snow between junctions 21 and 22 eastbound.

Northumberland County Council urged people not to travel unless 'absolutely necessary' as abandoned cars were causing issues for their snow plough teams on certain roads.

There were 20 collisions on a small section of the A19 in the space of an hour, Durham Police said.

An 11-vehicle collision closed the southbound carriageway at Castle Eden, with a separate crash shutting it northbound north of Easington.

It was not thought anyone was seriously injured.

A photograph tweeted by traffic officers showed a jackknifed lorry with damaged vehicles and the emergency services attending.

Durham Police urged drivers not to underestimate the severity of the driving conditions.

Northumbria Police said the A1 would be closed between Alnwick and Berwick for around three hours while snow is cleared.

'Our advice is not to travel AT ALL if not essential and if possible return to where you started your journey to wait safely,' the force said on Twitter.

There was also misery for drivers in Scotland - where the highest level of weather warning, a red alert, remains in place until 10am today.

Motorists on the M80 near Glasgow reported being stuck for up to 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars, and others abandoning their vehicles on the motorway. Some described it as having become a 'car park'.

Two cars are sent plummeting into a stream after part of a bridge collapses These dramatic pictures show the aftermath of a bridge collapse which sent two cars plummeting into a stream. The vehicles were swallowed up while a van was left teetering on the edge of the stone bridge in rural Skipton, North Yorkshire, as nearby buildings were evacuated. The cars, which had been vacant at the time, had been parked up near to a coffee shop when part of the bridge collapsed yesterday. Emergency services are at the scene of a road collapse in Skipton, North Yorkshire, which swallowed up two cars The cars, which were parked near to a coffee shop, fell into the ground at the North Yorkshire town's Coach Street car park North Yorkshire Fire and Police crews attended the scene with highways, structural engineers and gas and electricity services. A beck runs underneath the bridge and one eye-witness said it was 'lucky that no-one was seriously hurt or killed'. On-lookers believed the cold weather battering the UK this week - dubbed 'the Beast from the East' - was to blame for the collapsed bridge. Nearby buildings have been evacuated while investigation works into the collapse in North Yorkshire take place A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: 'Skipton fire crews dealt with a bridge collapse in a car park on coach road. 'A number of vehicles have fallen into a beck and other vehicles are in a precarious position. 'Nearby buildings evacuated. Highways, structural engineer, gas engineer and electricity board on route.' Advertisement

The frosted scene at Lauder in the Scottish Borders today as heavy snow fall fell this afternoon causing whiteout conditions

Blizzard conditions cause hazardous driving conditions on the M74 in Glasgow, bringing traffic to a near standstill

Snow and high winds continue to blow in over the cliffs on the coastline of Saltburn-By-The-Sea in North Yorkshire today

A stranded car covered in snow in Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning as Storm Emma rolls in from the Atlantic

A 75-year-old woman's body was found laid partially under a parked car in Leeds this morning as severe weather continued

Empty shelves in the Co-op store in Middleton in Teesdale, County Durham, with deliveries failing to arrive this morning

Driver Stevie Buist abandoned his car at Castlecary, Lanarkshire, and walked on the hard shoulder with his children Lucy, five, and Logan, nine, along with their dog.

Causes of a 'Sudden Stratospheric Warming' The cold spell dubbed the 'the Beast from the East', has been caused by a jump in temperatures high over the Arctic known by meteorologists as sudden stratospheric warming. This has weakened the jet stream that brings warm air in from the Atlantic to Ireland and Britain. This means the country is getting a strong easterly flow of very dry, cold continental originating over in Siberia. The UK normally experiences a polar continental air mass when pressure is high over Scandinavia. In winter cold air is drawn in from the Eurasian landmass, bringing the cold weather from the 'Beast from the East'. The length of sea track during the air's passage from Europe to Britain will determine its characteristics. A short sea track over the English Channel will bring clear skies and severe frost, plus the cold and dry air. But a longer track over the North Sea makes the air unstable and moisture is added - potentially bringing rain and snow. Surface temperatures below freezing will make any snow drier because it contains less water. But wet snow comes from slightly warmer and moist air, which joins snowflakes together. Advertisement

He told STV: 'We got on the motorway at 2pm and at about 5.30pm I decided to leave the car as I was low on diesel and mobile phone battery.'

He added: 'I thought I would take my chances while it was light outside... Temperatures were dropping and it was already -3C so I couldn't make them sleep in the car.'

Dylan Robertson tweeted: 'After a 3 hour long failed attempt to drive to Stirling from Glasgow I can now confirm the M80 is at a standstill.'

Martin Braithwaite posted: 'Haven't moved in two hours and in the last 15mins the snow has come and devoured the asphalt.'

Graeme Murray left Aberdeen at 2.45pm yesterday with his daughter Ella, 16, who was hoping to catch a flight to Dublin from Glasgow for an under-17s netball competition.

Speaking at around 10pm, the 49-year-old legal commercial director said: 'Everything was going well until just after Gleneagles, then we hit the traffic jam at 5.05pm and have been here ever since.

'We have no idea what's happening, we're just getting messages from home. I think we're going to get ready to spend the night here.'

HGV driver Alex Downie from Dundee said he had been stuck on the M80 near Castlecary since 5pm on Wednesday.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: 'The northbound M80 is moving but southbound we have been stationary, I haven't moved since 5.10 last night.

'A few volunteer people came up and down the roads, it must have been about one o'clock this morning, a gentleman came over from his house with provisions and passed them out to people in cars.

'The police came round on the northbound carriageway at four this morning and informed us that the road was open and we would be moving again.

'That was the last police car we seen, that was the last information we had as well.'

As the M80 ground to a halt, Traffic Scotland urged stuck motorists to stay in their vehicles, tweeting that police had deployed the Rapid Relief Team to 'provide welfare to drivers and passengers'.

A jackknifed lorry also brought the M80 to a standstill earlier in the day.

Police said the M80 was blocked for rush hour and much of the evening with an estimated 1,000 vehicles at a standstill at the height of the standstill, with tailbacks of approximately eight miles both North and South bound.

Superintendent Helen Harrison said: 'We are now 24 hours into the red and amber-related advice not to travel on the roads and rush hour last night was noticeably less busy thanks to people heeding our message. It remains the same this rush hour coming - do not travel.

'Many of those people who did go out yesterday faced treacherous conditions, blocked roads, being stuck in their vehicles or even being involved in collisions.

'We do not want anyone to put themselves or others at risk in these conditions.

'We are continuing to run a multi-agency command centre at Bilston to co-ordinate the emergency response to the severe weather with our partners and keep Scotland moving as best we can.'

Drivers reported tailbacks on most motorways, including a 12-mile queue on the M74 outside Glasgow – shops, cafes and restaurants had to close because of a lack of staff and supplies.

The A66 in the North East was shut between Scotch Corner and Brough, while the A628 was closed in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire between Flouch and Tintwistle due to snow and stranded vehicles.

Highways England said the A56 in Lancashire would be shut between the M65 and A680 for 'several hours' to recover a crashed lorry and clear the snow.

Temperatures plunged to a widespread low of between -6C (21F) and -4C (25F) overnight, and forecasters have warned it could feel as chilly as -11C (52F) during the day as the winds continue to strengthen.

Meanwhile a Greggs delivery driver was thanked for handing out cakes, pasties and doughnuts to stranded drivers on the A1 in Lindisfarne, Northumberland.

Mechanical engineer Les Goff from Leeds was also stuck and helped the driver Jon Gowing to share them out.

Mr Goff, who is also guitar tech with the band the Pigeon Detectives, was travelling home from Edinburgh when he got stuck.

Speaking from the Lindisfarne Inn on the A1 after being trapped by the weather all day, he said: 'The traffic had been stopped for a couple of hours so I went for a walk for a couple of miles to see if I could help, but I still couldn't see the start of the queue.

'I was walking back down the hill when I saw the Greggs guy at the back with the tail-lift and he just said "Do you want some cakes?"

'He asked me to take some to the other drivers and he walked up the traffic and I walked down the traffic with doughnuts, vanilla slices and cakes, handing them out.

'He was a top guy. He said if he hadn't delivered them by a certain time, they would go to waste.

'Obviously it was freezing, I couldn't feel my fingers and toes as I was walking along with this tray of cakes.'

Roisin Currie, people and retail director at Greggs said: 'We are incredibly proud of Jon and his act of kindness.'

The Greggs delivery driver took stranded drivers treats as they braved the adverse weather conditions brought by Storm Emma and the Beast from the East

Highways England response vehicle catches fire on a snow-hit motorway while trying to help drivers A Highways England response vehicle trying to help drivers on a snow-hit motorway caught on fire today. The traffic officer patrol vehicle was working to help vehicles on the M62 near Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The incident happened at Junction 22 on the border between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. A Highways England traffic officer patrol vehicle caught on fire today on the M62 near Rochdale in Greater Manchester today Nobody was injured in the incident but video footage was caught on camera by passing motorists. There were around eight miles of tailbacks on the M62 thanks to snow between junctions 21 and 22. Police officers with 4x4s, Highways England patrols, contractors and snowploughs attempted to clear it. The 4x4 response vehicle was working to help vehicles at J22 on the border between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Advertisement

Queuing traffic on the M80 in Scotland this morning, with many drivers facing delays of up to 13 hours in the snow

A train pulls into a snowy Petts Wood train station in South East London this morning as commuters try to get to work

Gusts of up to 60mph could also bring 'blizzard-like conditions'.

How rare is a Met Office red weather warning? The Met Office today issued a red weather warning for snow for the first time in England, just 24 hours after a similar warning was issued in Scotland. The two alerts are the first issued for snow anywhere in Britain for five years. Red wind and snow warning in SW England The only previous time a red snow warning was activated in the UK was for South Wales in January 2013. Today's alert is the tenth red warning issued by the Met Office since its three-tier system came into use in 2011. It also includes yellow warnings for 'be aware' and amber for 'be prepared'. Red snow warning issued in central Scotland The snow alert in January 2013 came as a succession of weather systems meeting cold air led to a period of significant snowfall causing disruption between January 18 and 25. The heaviest snowfalls occurred across parts of South Wales, with around 10in (25cm) falling in some locations, but much of England was also affected. The Met Office definition of a red alert is to 'take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the weather. Widespread damage, travel and power disruption and risk to life is likely. You must avoid dangerous areas and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities'. Yellow, amber and red warnings explained The ten red warnings issued by the Met Office since the system began seven years ago are as follows: December 8, 2011: Wind in central and southern Scotland

January 3, 2012: Wind in central Scotland

July 7, 2012: Rain in Devon and Cornwall

January 18, 2013: Snow in South Wales

February 12, 2014: Wind in Wales and northern England

December 5, 2015: Rain in Cumbria and the Borders (Storm Desmond)

December 26, 2016: Rain in Lancashire and Yorkshire

January 29, 2016: Wind in Orkney and Shetland

Yesterday: Snow in central Scotland

Today: Wind and snow in South West England Advertisement

Scottish Borders Council said snowploughs had been out overnight on key routes, although further snow and drifts meant many routes are 'extremely hazardous'.

'Please avoid travelling during the Amber weather warning period, which runs until 6pm,' the council tweeted.

East Lothian Council said teams had been focusing on priority routes. 'It has been a difficult night and conditions likely to remain challenging in hours ahead,' the council tweeted.

Police Scotland advised only emergency workers should travel after bad weather left 'many drivers trapped in vehicles for long periods'.

The force tweeted: 'Todays advice: don't travel unless you're an emergency worker. #REDALERT remains till 10am and at best will reduce to yellow.

'Many drivers trapped in vehicles for long periods. Public transport disruption all day check @trafficscotland @ScotRail and radio for updates.'

Scotland's Transport Minister Humza Yousaf MSP said: 'The travel advice in the affected areas today could not be clearer - do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.

'Even after the red warning is lifted, large parts of Scotland will still be subject to high level amber weather warnings for snow. This should not be underestimated.

'An amber warning means there is a real possibility that vehicles and drivers will become stranded - something that we have already seen happen during this period of snow.

'I strongly urge people to adhere to police advice by avoiding travel in areas with red and amber warnings. I also encourage employers to be as flexible as possible with their staff, allowing them to stay safe and avoid travel.'

As well as the red alert - which has never before been issued for Scotland, England or Northern Ireland - amber warnings have also been issued for the north east of England and the central belt of Scotland, in place between 10am and 8pm today, and for south west England and south Wales from 12pm until 8am tomorrow.

On top of these, yellow snow warnings have been issued for vast swathes of southern, central, and northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales - in place for most of today.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said some parts of the south west could see up to 50cm (1ft 8in) of snow by tomorrow morning.'If you don't have to go anywhere over the next few days, stay at home,' he warned.

Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office said: 'Whilst initially the snow will be patchy in nature, will turn heavier and more persistent through the afternoon and evening and it will become very windy.

'10-20cm of snow is to settle widely across the red warning area with 30-50cm possible over the hills and moors.

'Parts of southwest England and Wales could also see freezing rain and for a time on Thursday night – a relatively rare weather phenomena in the UK.

'This may lead to widespread icy stretches, especially on untreated surfaces, leading to difficult conditions for vehicles and pedestrians.

'The combination of the snow, very strong winds and resultant drifting will lead to long delays and cancellations of public transport and some roads are likely to become blocked by deep snow, stranding vehicles and passengers.

'We advise people to avoid travel, keep up to date with the forecast and warnings and follow the advice of the emergency services and local authorities.'

In response to the impending heavy snow showers all schools, community centres and libraries in Edinburgh will be closed, the city's local authority said.

Plymouth Council said more than 80 schools would be closed today, with more than 50 in Newcastle and 103 across Devon remaining shut.

Disruption across the country's road and rail network is expected to ensue throughout rush hour today, with road closures already in place and alterations to train services.

Several airports reported disruption due to the weather, with Gatwick Airport expecting 'a large number of cancellations and delays to flights'.

Glasgow Airport has announced it will stay closed for the rest of the day.

A spokesman said: 'A severe amber warning advising against all but essential travel has been issued by the Met Office and will remain in place until tomorrow morning.

'In light of this and the impact it is having on passengers and staff, including airline staff, travelling to and from the airport we will remain closed for the rest of the day.

'This decision has been taken with safety of passengers and staff in mind.'

Commuters face delays to access the London Underground at King's Cross station after the entrance barriers were shut today

Edinburgh Airport said it was currently closed because weather conditions meant it and the airlines operating there 'do not have the critical mass of staff needed to run operations securely'.

What to do if you see a homeless person out in sub-zero weather People across Britain are being urged to do all they can to help the homeless out on the streets in the sub-zero conditions hitting the country. Those in England and Wales can contact Street Link, an app and helpline service which helpos connect those sleeping rough with local services. A homeless person in London last night Emergency winter night shelters are also in operation, with the Homeless Link directory providing details for local homelessness services. If someone appears to be in immediate danger, the public should call 999. The homeless charity Crisis adds: 'One of the most important things you can do is simply stop and talk to someone. Rough sleeping can be an isolating, devastating experience – a shared word could make all the difference.' A record number of rough sleepers have been referred to StreetLink this week, with director Matt Harrison saying the level of concern was 'inspiring to see'. In London, dozens of outreach workers have stepped up efforts to help bring vulnerable rough sleepers in from the cold. Around 500 extra beds in shelters, hostels and churches have been made available in the capital through local authorities, charities, faith and community groups after a Swep (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) plan was triggered. In response to the bitter conditions, St Mungo's homeless charity and the City of London have opened a new emergency shelter - in the Guild Church of Saint Mary Aldermary - which took in seven people on its first night. In Dublin, homelessness charities were working to get up to 20 rough sleepers who remained outdoors into emergency accommodation. Advertisement

Heathrow said it had 'consolidated' its flight schedule 'to provide more certainty around departing flights, and ensure the safety of our passengers and colleagues', while Gatwick said 'many flights are cancelled or delayed today'.

Manchester Airport said a total of 30 flights had been cancelled. The airport tweeted: 'Due to the continued bad weather we are seeing 30 cancellations so far today.

'We'll update on these as soon as possible and provide a full list. In the meantime passengers can check our website and with their airline.'

Ryanair said it has cancelled all flights to and from the following airports for the rest of Thursday: East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cork and Kerry.

The low cost airline also cancelled a number of flights serving Dublin Airport.

A spokesman said: 'We are doing everything we can to re-accommodate customers and we apologise for any inconvenience caused by these disruptions which are entirely outside of our control.'

A spokesman for travel trade organisation Abta said: 'Customers who are overseas and whose flight arrangements are delayed or cancelled should liaise with their tour operator or airline regarding changes to their travel itineraries and new flight arrangements.

'If their flight is in the European Union or their airline is an EU carrier, customers will be entitled to food, refreshment and overnight accommodation or a refund of proportionate costs and will be flown home as soon as is possible at their airline's expense.'

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith told ITV's Good Morning Britain today: 'I'm told Heathrow is dumping flights and I don't understand why.

'There are other parts of the UK coping fine. Why do all our airports have to be different?

'When snow comes, we've somehow never seen it before. In the run to this there was such a bombardment about terrible it was going to be - how bad it is.

'Yes, this is difficult and people will make their own decisions but after this is over I would encourage the Government to have a root and branch review of how we deal with it, because this will affect the economy.'

The extreme weather shows no sign of letting up, with fears snow in the south west could turn into freezing rain tomorrow - making conditions 'even more treacherous'.

More than 2,100 homes and businesses lost power when a live cable fell into a road, Durham Police said.

It happened at Daisy Hill, Shotley Bridge, at around 11.45am.

A van travelling down the steep hill hit a parked car when the driver tried to avoid the live cable, a police spokesman said. No-one was hurt.

Northern Power Grid said electricity was restored around 1.30pm.

All schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland will be closed today and tomorrow, the Education Minister has said.

Richard Bruton wrote on Twitter: 'Status red has now been issued for all counties with immediate effect.

'All schools, third level institutions and colleges of further education will be closed tomorrow and Friday #stormemma.'

Commuters battle the elements in Leeds, West Yorkshire, this morning as the severe weather brings disruption across the UK

Snow drifts in the Lydgate area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, today as severe weather continues to batter the UK

A horse sits in the snow in Suffolk today as the extreme weather conditions affecting Britain this week continue

A section of the M80 motorway near Glasgow is clear of vehicles today after it was closed following severe weather

Commuters battle though snowy conditions as they cross London Bridge on the way to work in the capital this morning

A man clears snow from a car in Larbert, Falkirk, as Storm Emma sweeps into Britain from France and Portugal today

A dog takes a tumble in the heavy snow with its owner in Blackburn, Lancashire, this morning as Storm Emma moves in

Motorists on the M80 near Glasgow reported being stuck for up to 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars

Around 250 schools have been closed across Northern Ireland due to adverse weather conditions.

Man in his 60s dies after being plucked from a frozen lake A man has died after being plucked from a frozen lake having fallen through the ice. Emergency services were called to Danson Lake at Danson Park in Welling, South East London, yesterday as temperatures plummeted to -2C. Emergency services at the scene at the park in Welling, South East London, yesterday The man, who was in his 60s, was pulled from the water of the popular sailing and angling lake in a sprawling public park. He was taken to a South London hospital but Scotland Yard confirmed last night that he had died. The death is being treated as unexplained. Advertisement

Snow has also affected a number of flights into and out of Belfast International and the George Best Belfast City Airport with cancellations and delays on routes to and from Scotland and the south of England.

Public transport operator Translink has reported a number of delays to bus and rail services.

While cross-border bus and train services have also been impacted.

The border counties of Armagh and Down have been worst affected with some of the main roads including the M1 motorway reduced to one lane in parts.

'Driving conditions in counties Armagh and Down are particularly difficult and we are focusing most of our efforts in those areas at present,' said Simon Wells from the Roads Service.

Snow blowers and ploughs are on standby in case conditions deteriorate further, Mr Wells added.

A yellow weather warning has been put in place with further snow showers accompanied by very low temperatures forecast throughout the region from today and into the weekend.

In the Republic a red weather warning has been put in place with people told not to leave their home after 4pm.

Met Eireann, the Irish meteorological service warned of blizzards, severe thunderstorms and coastal flooding after issuing a red alert for the whole of the country.

'Scattered heavy snow showers and widespread ice and lying snow today,' the Irish meteorological service said on Twitter.

'During the afternoon and evening blizzard conditions will develop across Munster and Leinster as heavy snow together with driving easterly winds spread northwards to all areas through the rest of the day.

'Temps will remain below freezing for the day. Strong to gale force easterly winds will bring the risk of coastal flooding along southern and eastern coasts.

Stranded drivers on the M80 near Glasgow today, with some motorists suffering a whole night stuck in their cars

Buses to Edinburgh Airport stand at a bus stop in the Scottish capital this morning as parts of Britain are hit by severe weather

Chris Wright‏ posted this picture last night of him stranded with two children aged two and six months at Glasgow Airport

Rachel Muircroft said she had been stuck on a bus on a motorway in Scotland for more than three hours in the snow chaos, when a man who lives nearby 'just came on handing out water and snacks donated by his local shop'. She added: 'What a guy!'

Motorist Stuart McMillan took this picture having been stuck on the M80 near Glasgow for more than 12 hours overnight

As the M80 (pictured) ground to a halt near Glasgow, Traffic Scotland urged stuck motorists to stay in their vehicles, tweeting that police had deployed the Rapid Relief Team to 'provide welfare to drivers and passengers'

Passengers stranded at Glasgow Airport have tweeted pictures of them resting (right) and sleeping with space blankets (left)

A homeless person sleeps under a sheet on Piccadilly in London last night as the capital faces further sub-zero temperatures

'Blizzards will continue tonight. Severe thunderstorms could affect large areas of Munster and coastal areas of Leinster.'

Police slam 999 callers who wanted to kick homeless out of shelter and into -15C blizzard A police officer has hit out at members of the public who demanded shelter-seeking homeless people be removed from buildings during a snow storm. Rough sleepers attempting to get out of the -15C blizzards had settled in the corridors of buildings only for heartless callers phoning the police in London to move them on. Nick Waller said he was 'very disappointed' that members of the public complained about homeless people as the country is halted by icy storms. Mr Waller, who works for the Metropolitan Police, took to Twitter in a scathing rant against those who wanted the homeless kicked out. He said: 'Very disappointed that we had calls last night to remove homeless people sleeping in the corridors buildings! #ItCouldBeAnyOfUs 'We did not move them on, we offered them help and support and allowed them to get some sleep in warmth!' Many people praised the officer for his actions and said: 'Thanks for your consideration and help in this difficult situation. As you said it could so easily be one of us.' A Scotland Yard said: 'Whilst it would be wrong to comment on individual cases the issue of rough sleeping is an issue across many areas of the UK. 'Police and partners work together to support those sleeping rough whilst balancing the needs of the wider community.' Advertisement

In Scotland yesterday, more than 1,600 schools were shut, affecting some 450,000 pupils, while dozens of colleges, universities and businesses were also forced to close.

The Scottish Government took the extraordinary step of urging employers in the path of the storm to send staff home before the worst of the weather hit yesterday.

Major cities recorded temperatures colder than the capitals of Greenland and Siberia, and Scots also endured power cuts which hit up to 30,000 homes across the country. This is the worst weather since the 'Big Freeze' of 2010, when it fell to -20C (-4F).

The Met Office's Dave Britton said rural areas would drop to -10C (14F), with wind chill pushing the mercury down to -16C (3F) on high ground.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland it has been 'the most significant snow incident we've had since 2010'.

He said: 'The M80 has presented much more significant challenges to us overnight and there has been a very strong operation to try to gain traction over the course of the night.

'Although many people were stuck for a long time we did get the road moving quite significantly, but there are people who have been stuck there for a long time.'

He said people should avoid travel for the whole of today, telling the broadcaster: 'That's the clearest and the sharpest warning I can give, that people should avoid travel today to give us an opportunity to clear the incidents we have and to give us an opportunity to recover the network for the safe movement of individuals in due course.'

X Factor's tour event in Glasgow today has been cancelled due to heavy snow. The SSE Hydro said the decision had been made for safety reasons and advised customers to contact their ticket sellers for a refund.

As the snow continues, NHS workers across the country have been making an extra effort to ensure they can treat patients, with some even sleeping at their hospitals overnight.

Staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital were praised by the public after sleeping over to make their shifts the next day, while the lead nurse from Fife hospital, Sally O'Brien, tweeted: '13 nurses stayed overnight at Stratheden hospital & now working early shift @nhsfife @FifeHSCP @nickyconnorfife £severeweatherheroes.'

Dr Asma Anwar tweeted: 'Salute to the NICU staff Queen Elizabeth University Hospital 4 staying for the night after a 12 hr day shift to cover 4 those who couldn't make it to work due to the weather.I have no words to appreciate & thank u all hats off a BIG THANK U.'

RAF vehicles deliver urgent medicine to those trapped in snow Royal Air Force vehicles have been called into help reach people trapped in snow as Britain faces severe weather conditions. The three 4x4 military vehicles have taken to the roads of Lincolnshire to deliver urgent medical supplies and care to vulnerable people. They are helping to ferry doctors, nurses and carers to help those in need as the weather continues to deteriorate. It came as an emergency team made up of local public bodies called the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum requested military help in the county. Members of the public with 4x4s have already been driving mercy missions. Elsewhere, a rare snowstorm in Rome on Monday prompted Italian authorities to call in the Army to help clear the streets. And an army personnel carrier with caterpillar tracks was sent out on the roads of Denmark's Baltic Sea island of Bornholm for the first time in five years, helping to transport police and paramedics to locations if needed. Advertisement

Friends and loved ones of NHS staff also took to Twitter to describe the efforts of the nurses, doctors and staff in their families.

Christopher Kiltie wrote on Twitter: 'Girlfriend off to work with extra uniforms & toiletries so she can work through the night/sleep there incase hospital staff can't get in due to the weather, so that patients still get the care they need. Nurses/NHS workers are a different breed.'

And Lucy Oliver tweeted: 'So much respect for the NHS this evening. My neighbours, both doctors, are choosing to leave their kids at home with friends to sleep at the hospital & cover colleagues who are affected by snow. They aren't obliged, they just care, how lucky are we?!'

Medical staff and emergency workers have been praised for their 'amazing' efforts to get to work as extreme weather conditions gripped the country.

Many hospital staff walked miles through the snow to get to work, while others slept overnight at work to ensure they were there for their next shift.

Some were helped by members of the public who stopped in 4x4s to offer staff lifts into hospitals, while some companies offered the use of their 4x4 vehicles and drivers.

Workers at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow have posted about their experiences on the staff Facebook page.

Helen Watson said: 'I was working the night shift on Tuesday and drove home to West Lothian but left home again at 3.30pm to come in for the night shift.

'Not everyone has made it in but everyone is doing their best, walking, sharing lifts and even sleeping over to make sure they are here for patients in the morning.

'You don't go into the NHS to get any reward; it's because you have a passion. We need to put patients first.'

A Met Office red weather warning of snow in Scotland's central belt was in place from 3pm yesterday and expired at 10am today.

However, an amber warning of snow for much of Scotland is in place until 10am on Friday.

On Thursday morning, police advised people not to travel during the red alert period unless they were emergency workers.

Severe weather shuts 130 Aldi branches for more than 24 hours Every branch of Aldi in the Republic of Ireland has closed for more than 24 hours during the severe weather. All 130 stores shut at 1pm today and will not reopen until 5pm tomorrow. Several Aldi stores in Britain have also closed today, but the majority remain open. An Aldi Ireland spokesman said: 'All of our 130 stores will close today from 1pm and will reopen at 5pm tomorrow. 'We are monitoring the situation closely and if there are any changes we will communicate this tomorrow morning. 'Thanks to all our store teams, office teams, warehouse teams, and suppliers for their outstanding efforts this week in keeping our doors open to meet our customers' needs.' It comes as the beleaguered high street is braced for more pain amid warnings of a retail 'disaster' as extreme weather across Britain keeps people away from shops. Experts believe that heavy snowfall bringing parts of Britain to a standstill will hit bricks and mortar retailers hard as shoppers switch online instead. Phil Dorrell, managing partner of retail remedy, said: 'It will be bad for the high street. Anything that takes footfall away from shops reduces spend, and pushes spend towards the internet. 'In the short term, it's very much a disaster. If you go down to the nearest road you will see that traffic is significantly less than it was previously, so most parts of retail will be hurting at this point.' Advertisement

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Director of Human Resources Anne MacPherson praised staff for their efforts to come to work.

She said: 'We are greatly impressed and appreciative of the efforts made by our staff to care for patients in the most challenging of circumstances. This has happened all over the board area, in our hospitals and community settings.

'All our clinical and non-clinical teams have been working behind-the-scenes to keep our services running.'

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cancelled all non-essential operations and outpatient appointments on Thursday due to the severe weather, while NHS Lothian has cancelled all routine, non-urgent elective procedures and all hospital outpatient appointments today and tomorrow.

An NHS Lothian spokesman said: 'Our staff have made heroic efforts to ensure the safe running of our services. Many worked late and stayed overnight while others have walked miles to report for duty this morning.

'We salute their commitment and thank them for their resilience.'

NHS Tayside said most of its outpatient clinics and procedures are going ahead as normal and praised staff for their efforts.

Meanwhile, NHS 24 said it has been operating at around 50% capacity as many staff have not been able to get to work due to severe weather.

NHS 24 Medical Director Dr Laura Ryan said: 'We have seen many staff battle the elements to get to our centres, including on foot and we have arranged transport and accommodation to get people into work where possible.'

She added: 'Our people have been amazing in their efforts to deliver services and we pay tribute to them for their endurance and support.'

Police have also been praised for their efforts.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick tweeted: 'Head of @polscotcontrol tells me his remarkable staff across Scotland have been walking for hours to get to work and/or not gone home.

'One stayed on overnight at Govan to make a huge pot of soup for staff to keep them going while they answer your calls.'

In London, a man died yesterday after being pulled from a lake as sub-zero temperatures swept across the UK - with further icy blasts and 'blizzard-like' conditions yet to come.

The victim, in his 60s, fell into Danson Park in Welling, South East London, yesterday afternoon and was rescued by a member of the public.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the man was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Elsewhere, a young boy had a lucky escape when he was rescued from a frozen lake.

Firefighters rescued the youngster, who tried to run to the middle of a frozen lake and got trapped when the ice broke up at Laindon near Basildon, Essex. He was said to have been cold but otherwise unhurt.

The Met Office has apologised after members of the public reported outages on its website for the second day running.

On Twitter, the organisation said: 'Sorry about the issues we are experiencing on our website. We have had unprecedented web traffic which has caused some issues which we are working hard to resolve.

'You can still access our forecasts via our Met Office weather app.'

** Stranded by the snow? If it is safe to do so, please email your pictures to: pictures@mailonline.co.uk **

Why is the snow not deeper? How strong winds are stopping the blizzards hitting Britain from settling Wind is blowing it away The snow that has hit the UK is powdery and strong winds aren't allowing it to settle down. In built-up areas, the air flow is more turbulent, which prevents it from settling. Snow settles better on organic matter such as grass compared to concrete. For example, the Met Office takes official measurements of snowfall on grass. Cities and built-up areas are not only made of more concrete but are also inherently warmer thanks to people and vehicles which makes it even harder for snow to settle. Snow that settles onto objects (cars, buildings, trees etc) is exposed to more wind and sun than snow on the ground. This provides a higher surface area to mass ratio, thereby making it more prone to melting. Also, when snow has been transported by wind, the ice crystals break and the snow takes on a more rounded shape. This results in more closely packed snow particles and, as a result, dense snow. As a result of much of the UK being urbanised and experiencing strong winds, the snowfall has not resulted in as thick a covering as it would have if the same amount of snow had fallen in a less built-up place in different conditions. Why is the snow powdery? The powdery snow settling in parts of the UK is less sticky than the heavy wet snow we are more accustomed to. Surface temperature on the ground is an important factor. If the surface temperature is just above freezing, snow melts a little, making it damper and stickier. When temperatures are below freezing - as has been the case this week - you see the powdery type of snow. The good news is powdery snow is easier to shovel, as its lower water content means it is less dense and lighter. Normally, a layer of liquid water forms around the edge of the snowflake. It is this watery edge that makes snowflakes stick together. As it has been extremely cold in the clouds and below zero degrees at surface level, the watery margins around the snowflakes do not form. As these margins do not form, the snow is 'dry' or powdery. Experts predict that temperatures will increase as the week progresses which may lead to wetter, stickier and less powdery snow. Advertisement

We are free! Passengers films the moment traffic is FINALLY cleared from the M80 after being stuck for 17 HOURS

By KEILIGH BAKER FOR MAILONLINE

Stranded drivers have finally started to move again after being stuck on a motorway for up to 17 hours.

Hundreds of drivers were left stranded on the M80 near Glasgow overnight - with police estimating there were 1,000 vehicles at a standstill at one point, with tailbacks of approximately eight miles both north and southbound.

But they finally started moving again around lunchtime today, with an ITN cameraman stuck in the jam filming the moment he started up his car at 1pm, weaving through lorries and cars abandoned by their drivers.

Motorists tweeted photographs this morning (pictured) of being stuck in their cars on the M80 near Glasgow overnight

The cameraman, who tweets as 'Addy B TV' and works for 5 News, captioned the video by saying: 'And safely out of the big jam on the M80. Seventeen very special hours.'

Earlier, the drivers left stranded on the M80 were offered free cans of Irn Bru by a Good Samaritan. Traffic became stationary yesterday afternoon when heavy snow hit, and forecasters issuing the highest level weather warning.

Motorists reported being stuck for up to 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars.

Emergency responders and volunteer agencies, including mountain rescue teams, checked on stranded drivers, with some Good Samaritans also handing out food.

Lesley Forster (pictured) has been stuck on the motorway since yesterday afternoon. She posted this picture (left) of the stranded vehicles on the usually busy road

She later wrote on Twitter: 'Have been sitting in my car with no emergency help since 3pm,' adding that she felt 'like a sitting duck'

While many were forced to stay in their cars overnight, Jane Kennedy wrote on Twitter: 'Anyone stuck on the M80, I have a boot full of Irn Bru! Give me a shout if you need a drink.'

Motorists reported being stuck for up to 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars, and others abandoning their vehicles on the motorway.

Lesley Forster has been stuck on the motorway since yesterday afternoon. She wrote on Twitter: 'Have been sitting in my car with no emergency help since 3pm'

Emergency responders and volunteer agencies, including mountain rescue teams, checked on stranded drivers.

Police were advising people not to travel on Thursday unless they are an emergency worker.

Extreme weather and jack-knifed lorries combined to cause 'significant challenges' on one of Scotland's main roads where motorists were stranded overnight, the Deputy First Minister said

John Swinney said there had been an 'extensive operation' taking place to try to get traffic on the M80 motorway - which links Glasgow and Stirling - moving again.

HGV driver Alex Downie from Dundee said he had been stuck on the M80 near Castlecary since 5pm on Wednesday.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: 'The northbound M80 is moving but southbound we have been stationary, I haven't moved since 5.10 last night.

'A few volunteer people came up and down the roads, it must have been about one o'clock this morning, a gentleman came over from his house with provisions and passed them out to people in cars.

Craig Robertson, who was also stranded on the M80, posted this picture of the snow

Supplies being delivered to people stranded on the M80 in Scotland this morning

'The police came round on the northbound carriageway at four this morning and informed us that the road was open and we would be moving again. That was the last police car we seen, that was the last information we had as well.'

It happened after the first ever red weather warning was issued for much of central Scotland, with people advised not to travel.

Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland the country was experiencing 'the most significant snow incident we've had since 2010'. And he said the M80 had been a 'particular pinch point' after traffic ground to a halt.

Speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, the Deputy First Minister said: 'The M80 has presented much more significant challenges to us overnight and there has been a very strong operation to try to gain traction over the course of the night.

'Although many people were stuck for a long time we did get the road moving quite significantly, but there are people who have been stuck there for a long time.

'That's a combination of the intensity of the snow, but also the fact that we have had quite a number of jack-knifed lorries on that particular stretch of the road and the minute that happens the road gets blocked and nobody can get through.'

Superintendent Helen Harrison said: 'We are now 24 hours into the red and amber-related advice not to travel on the roads and rush-hour last night was noticeably less busy thanks to people heeding our message. It remains the same this rush-hour coming - do not travel.

'Many of those people who did go out yesterday faced treacherous conditions, blocked roads, being stuck in their vehicles or even being involved in collisions. We do not want anyone to put themselves or others at risk in these conditions.

'We are continuing to run a multi-agency command centre at Bilston to co-ordinate the emergency response to the severe weather with our partners and keep Scotland moving as best we can.'

Graeme Murray left Aberdeen at 2.45pm on Wednesday with his daughter Ella, 16, who was hoping to catch a flight to Dublin from Glasgow for an under-17s netball competition.

Speaking at around 10pm, the 49-year-old legal commercial director said: 'Everything was going well until just after Gleneagles, then we hit the traffic jam at 5.05pm and have been here ever since.

'We have no idea what's happening, we're just getting messages from home.

'I think we're going to get ready to spend the night here.'

Other major routes also faced disruption, with reports of minor accidents on some roads.

Hundreds of schools were closed for a second day on Thursday as the severe weather continues with Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Clackmannanshire announcing that all their schools would be shut.

Flights were also disrupted, with Glasgow Airport announcing that it will be closed until tomorrow.

The extreme weather has also seen NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cancel all non-essential operations and outpatient appointments on Thursday.

Virgin Trains has shut all its routes to and from Scotland throughout the day, while ScotRail halted all operations in the affected red area until late morning.

Bus operators in central regions also reported there would likely be disruptions continuing on Thursday.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: 'The travel advice in the affected areas today could not be clearer - do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.

'Even after the red warning is lifted, large parts of Scotland will still be subject to high-level amber weather warnings for snow. This should not be under-estimated. An amber warning means there is a real possibility that vehicles and drivers will become stranded - something that we have already seen happen during this period of snow.

Met Office forecasters issued alerts across most of Scotland, with the highest level warning continuing until 10am on Thursday in central regions.

It is the first red alert for snow in Scotland since a new warning system came into place in 2011.

Demand for gas hits a SIX-YEAR high as National Grid warns UK could run out TODAY unless suppliers provide more Britain could run out of gas as intense demand caused by plunging temperatures outstrips supply. National Grid, the operator of the gas pipeline network, has issued a 'gas deficit warning' as the nation ramps up the thermostats. It has been forced to ask suppliers to provide more to stop in running out today as demand for the fuel hit a six year high. Forecasts suggested the UK is facing 48 million cubic metres shortfall. The country uses around 70billion cubic metres of gas a year - an average of 198 million cubic metres a day. Britain could run out of gas because of plunging temperatures as consumers demand more for heating in the freezing weather It means large gas users, such as gas fired power stations, industrial units and large businesses will be asked to use less gas. It raised fears that factories would be forced to close up and down the country, but National Grid insisted businesses had protocols in place to use less gas if supplies run low. Households will only be asked to use less as a last resort, if these measures do not work. But energy analyst Peter Atherton told the BBC supply loss is 'potentially quite significant' He said that if suppliers are not able to meet demand, 'they will ask certain people to stop using gas.' He added: 'The last to get cut off is the domestic consumer.' National Grid said in a statement: National gas demand today is high and due to the extreme weather conditions, there have been gas supply losses overnight. 'At 5.45am this morning we issued a 'Gas Deficit Warning' to the market. 'This is an indication to the market that we'd like more gas to be made available to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the national gas network. 'We are in communication with industry partners and are closely monitoring the situation.' A graph showing the UK gas price spikes since September There was a large spike in trading prices for gas bought on the day on Wednesday, but prices for gas bought a month ahead declined slightly. Large energy suppliers mostly buy a month ahead so they can work out pricing for consumers and cut risks to their business. However, they also buy a day ahead, as do large energy users, and smaller energy suppliers. Advertisement

Picture postcard perfect: Queen's Household Cavalry march on through the snow in stunning image caught by a MailOnline reader

By KEILIGH BAKER FOR MAILONLINE

People across Britain have braved the arctic snap and headed outdoors to photograph the tons of snow and ice Storm Emma has unceremoniously dumped all over the country in the last two days.

Today the Met Office has put England under a red weather warning for snow for the first time ever, amid concerns that up to 1ft 8in could fall in the South West.

Storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, will meet the Beast from the East's chilly Russia air - causing further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures after the mercury fell as low as -16C (3F) last night.

But many people are determined to make the best of the icy conditions and have taken to social media to share their photos of the newly frosted landscape.

From artistic sketches and snaps of delighted dogs bounding through the ice to one brave soul baring all for a photo op in his snowy back garden, here MailOnline has collected some of the very best pictures sent in by our readers.

Andrew Wright snapped this stunning picture of the Changing of the Guard in the snow outside Buckingham Palace today

Deluge: Veronica Mallon sent in a photo of Marley in Glasgow (left) and Dennyloanhead near Falkirk by Michelle Duffy (right)

Tynemouth Life brigade volunteers at Cullercoats in North East England arrive to ask people to stay away from the coastline after warnings of rough seas are initiated by storm Emma's approach from the Atlantic

All alone: An abandoned car which became stuck at 7pm last night remains left on a snowy road this morning

Dickensian Norwich: Jeff Tebbutt sent in these photos of the town covered in several inches of snow this morning

Deep drifts: Charlotte Chapelhow lives in Gamblesby, Cumbria. She said: 'We are stranded in the snow, I'm unable to get to my job as a district nurse as my car is buried and blocked in.' Right: Thick snow on a garden table in Glasgow

Enjoying a frosty beverage: This brave soul bared all for a photo op in his snowy back garden in the centre of Edinburgh

It's a dog's life: Dennis and Neville (left) enjoy the snow in Newcastle - but this pup in Greenwich (right) seems less impressed

Panic buying: Empty shelves in Morrisons, Chippenham, last night after locals feared a shortage due to Beast from the East

NHS bosses warn 'perfect storm' of -16C blizzards, norovirus and flu is piling pressure on over-stretched hospitals amid the 'worst winter ever' NHS bosses have warned a 'perfect storm' of -16°C blizzards, norovirus and flu is piling pressure on over-stretched hospitals. Performance statistics show sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and blizzard-like conditions hit A&E departments across the country hard last week. Bed occupancies remain worryingly high and show no sign of falling to safe levels amid the 'worst winter ever', with more cold weather expected. Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the severe weather is an added burden on top of the recent 'usual' winter. He warned dozens of hospitals are likely to be forced to cancel routine procedures, while the NHS said children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses are at risk of the cold weather. Dr Scriven added: 'Today and the next few days will particularly stretch trusts, with staff struggling to get to work and ambulance trusts having immense problems getting patients to and from hospital. 'A lot of hospitals will cancel routine work over the next few days as a consequence of both of these. 'Overall NHS staff are pulling together and making immense efforts to keep people our hospitals safe.' The winter situation report, released by NHS England, revealed 20 of 137 acute trusts had no spare beds on at least one occasion last week. London North West Healthcare NHS Trust remained in that position every day, an analysis by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) showed. Advertisement

Worse things DO happen at sea: Incredible 'Perfect Storm'-style images of HMS Queen Elizabeth's support ship charging through roaring wind and snow storms reveal harsh conditions for the Royal Navy

By ROD ARDEHALI FOR MAILONLINE

This dramatic picture captures the moment a Royal Navy battleship was battered by the Beast From the East off the coast of Plymouth.

In scenes reminiscent of disaster movie The Perfect Storm, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring was rocked from side-to-side as hurricane conditions smashed into it yesterday.

The Tidespring, which provides key support to Britain's most powerful warship HMS Queen Elizabeth, powered through the thunderous waves and Baltic temperatures.

This dramatic picture captures the moment a Royal Navy battleship was battered by the Beast From the East off the coast of Plymouth. The Tidespring, which provides key support to Britain's most powerful warship HMS Queen Elizabeth, powered through the thunderous waves and Baltic temperatures

Footprints in the snow can be seen on the ship as it powers through choppy waters on its way home to Devon.

The incredible picture was shared on the Royal Navy's Twitter page with the caption: 'This is what the #TheBeastFromTheEast looks like if you're sailing into the teeth of it.

'This was taken on the bridge of brand-new tanker RFA Tidespring #snowday.'

RFA Tidespring was not accompanying Queen Elizabeth when the photo was taken as she had already docked in Portsmouth.

The tanker is one of three vessels that supports the 280 metre warship, which weighs a mamouth 65,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, Green Berets from Royal Marines 539 Assault Squadron took a chilly-looking selfie while battling the Beast from the East in an Offshore Raiding Craft.

Footprints in the snow can be seen on the ship as it powers through choppy waters on its way home to Devon

Royal Marines 539 Assault Squadron took a chilly-looking selfie while battling the Beast from the East in an Offshore Raiding Craft

National Grid has warned it may not have enough gas to meet demand in Britain today, as sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and 'blizzard-like' conditions left drivers stranded for more than 13 hours and airport passengers stuck.

The Met Office has put England under a red weather warning for snow for the first time ever, amid concerns that up to 1ft 8in could fall in the South West along with very strong winds leading to severe drifting.

Storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, is meeting the Beast from the East's chilly Russia air - causing further widespread snowfall and bitter temperatures after the mercury fell as low as -16C (3F) last night.

On the first day of meteorological spring today, temperatures will drop to -11C (12F) during the day as Scotland also remains under a 'red alert' - and London Paddington train station was closed due to 'severe weather'.

The National Grid has issued a 'gas deficit warning' as fears mount that supplies could run empty. It issued the warning in response to a series of 'significant supply losses resulting in a forecast end of day supply deficit'.

Sarah Cook, flood duty manager for the Environment Agency, said: 'Strong winds and large waves could combine with high tides this week and cause flooding along the north east and south west coastlines.

'Our teams are on the ground, checking and maintaining flood defences. We urge people to stay safe on the coast by taking extreme care on coastal paths and promenades and don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger by taking "storm selfies" or driving through floodwater.

'We will issue flood alerts and warnings as needed so please check www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk for the latest advice or call 0345 988 1188.'