Britain hit by snow
2010-11-27 15:59
London - Britain shivered in unseasonably cold weather on Saturday as the earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years blanketed many areas of the country.
The Met Office issued severe weather warnings of heavy snow for Scotland, northeast and southeast England and Northern Ireland.
Overnight temperatures were reported as low as minus 10 Celsius in parts of Wales, with much of Britain struggling to get past 3C during the day.
Further falls of as much as 10 cm of snow were forecast for higher parts of the northeast and Scotland, with the chilly spell predicted to last throughout the weekend and into next week.
The icy conditions made driving treacherous in many areas and hit sporting events.
Northumbria Police urged drivers not to travel unless their journey was of a critical nature after heavy snow in the north east.
Horse racing was called off at Newcastle's Gosforth Park and at Towcester in Northamptonshire, with snow also forcing the cancellation of Beith's replay with Airdrie United in soccer's Scottish Cup.
