More snow forecast amid big freeze

Jan 19 2013

The big freeze across the UK is here to stay, with more snow expected next week.

With travel chaos across the country and Britain's busiest airport being likened to a "refugee camp" amid more than 110 cancelled flights, forecasters predicted further misery in the coming days.

On Saturday night, a major search ended when six climbers were located after some of their group went missing in an avalanche at Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. One woman said to be seriously injured was taken to Belford hospital in Fort William and a male climber was discovered safe and well.

Following Friday's deluge of snow, much of Saturday's snowfall was limited to the north east of England and the east of Scotland. But on Sunday a blanket of snow is expected to fall across more of the nation, hitting London and the South East of England first before moving north.

Laura Caldwell, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There will be a few snow showers but heavier snow moving into the south of England and spreading into the Midlands, north east Wales, East Anglia and central England. There will be a quite significant accumulation and it will be seen first in London and the South East before moving north later in the day."

Freezing temperatures which have chilled the UK for the past week will also combine, with more snow in northern England as next week begins, Ms Caldwell added. "It is not going to be getting warmer any time soon," she said.

On Saturday, there were angry scenes at London's Heathrow airport as travellers had to sleep on the floor for a second day after flights continued to be hit by the weather. Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, painted a bleak picture, saying the scene was like "a refugee camp".

Frustrated passengers claimed they were not given enough information as at least 67 departures were grounded and 33 arrivals cancelled. Tempers frayed in Terminal 5, with accusations of queue-jumping in the lengthy lines at check-in desks.

There will be a reduced flight schedule on Sunday with an estimated 260 cancellations. BA and the airport insisted they were doing everything they could in difficult circumstances. Travellers at regional airports including Leeds Bradford, Humberside and Newcastle were also frustrated by delays and disruption caused by the wintry weather.

Train passengers did not fare much better, with reduced services across the country. Virgin Trains cancelled a number of services from the capital to Birmingham and Manchester, and others were delayed. The freezing temperatures also prompted motoring organisations to issue warnings. Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "With the snow compacting down and turning icy, we're likely to see treacherous driving conditions throughout the weekend. Any fresh snow on top will just add to the problems."