More rain, snow, gales approaching

Britain is bracing itself for more severe weather

Severe weather warnings have been issued for parts of Britain on Tuesday.

Forecasters are warning of more heavy snow in Scotland and the north east of England, severe gales in Wales and the Midlands and heavy rain causing a flood risk in parts of the south of England.

The current spell of severe wintry weather has caused chaos on the roads and left three people dead.

Ice and snowdrifts of up to 20ft left thousands of homes in Scotland and northern England without power on Monday, and closed dozens of schools and roads.

Scotland and north-east England have had heavy snow

And forecasters fear more chaos on Tuesday with winds of up to 80mph threatening structural damage in North Wales and possibly northern England.

There were 67 flood warnings in place at one point on Monday and the effects of overnight rain in southern England may lead to more flooding.

The hazardous conditions look set to continue north of the border, with forecasters predicting further snowfalls in Scotland.

A band of rain and snow will move up through the north of England and into Scotland, where it will linger for the remainder of Tuesday.

Three dead

Three fatal accidents have been attributed to the weather.

Ian Close, 39, was a rear seat passenger in a car which collided with a snowplough on the A68 at Heighington, near Darlington, Co Durham, on Sunday night. He died "almost instantly", say police.

A teenage boy also lost his life when he was swept into the North Sea as he walked along the coastline at South Gare, Co Durham, on Sunday afternoon.

Together with three other youngsters - all from Middlesbrough - he was washed into the water by the pier entrance to the River Tees.

All four were swept back to shore before help arrived, but one of the boys was declared dead on arrival at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Information about flood warnings in England and Wales is available on 0845 9881188.