YOURSELVES

As the Big One’ hits UK

was cancelled because of a frozen pitch.

The amber weather warning for eight inches of snow includes where road conditions yesterday were said to be “treacherous”. Some roads were closed and others were described as “impassable” while doctors advised people to check on elderly neighbours.

In – expected to be one of the worst-hit regions today – heavy snow and ice yesterday led to an appeal for 4x4 drivers to transport nurses and doctors to and from their hospital shifts.

has been told to expect heavy snow all day today, from the early hours, while hospitals in were gearing up for injuries from slips and falls with the city expected to suffer some of the worst weather – including gale force winds.

In flights from the airport yesterday were hit by delays of up to two hours because planes needed to be de-iced. The city is expected to escape the worst of the weather today but could still get over four inches of snow.

Severe

Police on the M62 near in Greater Manchester were met head-on by a confused driver trying to join the wrong side in poor visibility.

In snow ploughs are lined up this morning to clear routes with road temperatures of -4C forecast overnight. the

and newly crowned City of Culture – all at the centre of today’s expected snowstorm – had heavy falls yesterday amid warnings of severe road, rail and air delays.

Hundreds of homes were without power across the last night after supply problems caused by freezing temperatures. The South, including

and should escape most of the snow but will be hit by gales that could knock out power.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral slashed odds from evens to 1-4 on there being a white Christmas while it is offering 1-2 that this month ends as the coldest December on record.

A spokesman said: “There is no sign of the weather improving this month, therefore we have had no option but to cut the odds on December ending as the coldest on record in the UK.”