The first major snowfalls to hit Britain this winter have caused disruption in the south-west of England and Wales, blocking roads, disrupting rail and air services and leaving drifts up to four feet deep.

Blizzard-like conditions hit the Valleys area of South Wales and more than 200 local schools were shut because of severe road blockages.

Up to six inches of snow closed the A470 main route near Brecon, the A40 at Sennybridge and the A467 Brecon-Ystradgynlais road. Police warned of black ice in the region and are warning of hazardous driving conditions across the country.

The BBC's Clarence Mitchell reports how Siberian weather has hit Britain (Dur 0:48)

Conditions also prompted the Meteorological Office to issue a severe weather warning. Forecasters said that easterly gales might lead to snowdrifts in southern England, Wales and the Midlands.

Bitter winds from Siberia sent temperatures plummeting to minus 2 degrees, and the wind chill factor means it feels ten degrees colder.

The RAC said that motoring breakdowns were running at more than four times their normal level in the west of England and in Wales.

"The snow was forecast in advance and in most places wasn't too severe but it found many vehicles out of condition and unprepared," said RAC spokesman Rob Maynard.

For some the weather means a day off school

Devon was hit hardest by the snow, and more than 53 schools in the county have closed. All over the region, minor accidents with cars and lorries caused congestion problems.

Sixty gritting lorries, some with snowploughs have been out spreading tons of salt over the county's hundreds of miles of priority roads. Devon County Council emergency control room said the Meteorological Office had told them "to expect it to get worse before it gets better".

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said some motorists were driving "like idiots" in the conditions, and were "accidents looking for somewhere to happen."

In South Wales more than 30 schools were closed by several inches of snow in the Valleys areas. A Rhondda Cynon Taf education department spokesman said disruption was widespread.

Railway services from Plymouth and Exeter were disrupted, and the snow caused problems with aircraft due to depart from Plymouth airport.

A red-necked wallaby gets to grips with the cold at Whipsnade Zoo

The snow prompted bookmaker William Hill to cut the odds on a white Christmas in London, Cardiff or Glasgow from 4-1 to 2-1 - the shortest odds quoted before Christmas for more than 20 years.

"Although the weathermen predict that it will become milder, we can't afford to take a risk as we already face a potential pay-out of up to £250,000," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

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