Britain braced for a white Christmas as warm November becomes distant memory with snow and frost freezing the country

By PAUL SIMS



Cold comfort for motorists: Monday morning commuters travel through a 'white out' blizzard on the A66 near Appleby, Cumbria as the big freeze returns to northern Britain



The big freeze finally hit Britain today, carpeting much of the north in snow and ice, while temperatures plummet across the rest of the country.

After the second-warmest November since records began in 1910, many woke up to widespread frost this morning and the task of de-icing their windscreens.

Forecasters have warned that four inches of snow will fall in the next 48 hours causing misery for motorists.



Perilous: An overturned car lies in a ditch on the Shetland islands after heavy snow hits much of the UK's north



Plump: This rather large robin sits atop a snow covered branch in Hexham, Northumberland



Let it snow! Richard Mooney and his dog Toby walk underneath snow-covered bows near Whitburn in West Lothian today after six inches of the white stuff fell overnight



Piled up: A farmer clears his gate today after heavy snow fell at Cowshill, County Durham overnight



A lorry driver died this morning after his vehicle skidded off a trunk road in north Lincolnshire after driving conditions turned treacherous.

Humberside Police said the white Scania lorry, which was fully loaded with meat, left the westbound carriageway of the A160 in South Killingholme at about 4.14am.

Police across the north of England and Scotland are warning motorists to take extra care due to sleet and snow.

Meanwhile in Northumberland a soldier had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering from hypothermia as the icy conditions gripped the country.

The 24-year-old was on an exercise at the Otterburn Army Camp when he became ill and had to be flown to Wansbeck Hospital this morning.



Splash of colour: A butterfly sits on a branch among red berries, starkly contrasting with the white snow in the Scottish borders



Frozen landscape: A woman walks her dog through the snow in Allenheads, Hexham, this morning as much of the north woke up to a white world



Festive: A plump robin sits on a snow-covered branch in Allenheads, Hexham, today, left, while a red rose's petals bear the brunt of the significant snow fall in Moulin, Perthshire, right



Red sky in the morning: A spectacular sunrise is captured over Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear, this morning as snow was forecast across the north of England for the rest of today



On hard ground: Jockeys and their horses trot to the gallops on the Pennines near West Witton today as snowfall continues to sweep the north of England



Low visibility: The jockeys then had to ride through a blizzard as the weather in the Pennines got worse this morning



Not the best day for a driving lesson: A learner driver crawls up a hill in North Belfast today after police closed the Ballysillan Road due to the icy conditions



Ice rink: A police officer stands behind a car attempting to make it down the icy hill, left, while concerned neighbours contemplate an icy mini roundabout, right, both in North Belfast today



Baaa humbug: A flock of sheep today trudge through the snow-covered hills above the Glens in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland



Picture postcard: Snow covers the ground as far as the eye can see in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland today and more is on the way



Winter wonderland: Snow and ice transforms Cowshill in County Durham into a scene worthy of a picture postcard



Lone rider: A farmer uses a quad bike to get about in the snow as he brings in his flock of sheep near Peebles in the Scottish Borders



The Met Office has predicted sub-zero temperatures and strong winds will continue for the rest of the week in northern and western parts, while gales with gusts up to 40mph are due to hit the region tomorrow morning.

The south west and east will remain dry and bright but bitterly cold as the weeks moves forward, but there is a risk of fog and frost overnight.

Gritters were put on stand-by and motorists warned to take extra precautions after up to three inches fell over the weekend.



Cold nag: A well-padded horse kicks up the thick snow in a field on the outskirts of Belfast this morning



White-out walkies: A woman walks her dog near Peebles in the Scottish Borders today as heavy snow covers much of Scotland



Dashing through the snow: A boy strides purposefully to school across the snow-covered roads today, left, while a man picks his way over an icy bridge, right, both in Peebles in the Scottish Borders



Battle: Scottish workers shovel the first significant snow this winter outside Buchanan bus station in Glasgow city centre today as the icy conditions made it treacherous for motorists



As children frolicked, drivers battled their way through untreated rural roads, with some having to dig themselves out before setting off. Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham were hit first, but the freezing conditions are set to spread to parts of Yorkshire by midweek at the latest.

Yet as snow blankets parts of the UK, France’s ski resorts are facing a potentially ruinous shortage.

Just two of its 36 resorts in the Pyrenees are open, and it is unclear if the snowfall expected there this week will be enough to salvage the season for thousands of ­Britons looking forward to pre-Christmas breaks.



Braving the elements: A pony walks through the snow in Allenheads in Hexham as the freezing weather continues to sweep the north of England



White out: Farmers bringing in their flock of sheep and a tree in the background are the only things visible on this snowy landscape near Peebles, on the Scottish borders



source: dailymail