Arctic wind and snow to keep hold

Northern Scotland and Wales were expected to see the worst of the conditions, with the situation easing in Northern Ireland.

Temperatures of -5C and 20cm of snow were forecast in parts of Scotland.

And forecasters raised the prospect that southern England could be hit by snow showers on Friday.

'Atrocious conditions'

BBC weatherman John Hammond said there was an outside chance the south would see prolonged snowfall.

Northern Scotland would see "atrocious conditions" he said, with heavy snowfall that would also hit Wales.

Readers' wintry pictures

Northern Ireland would see snow showers throughout the night, but with conditions easing "to some extent".

On Tuesday night temperatures fell to -6C (21F) in Sennybridge, in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.

Snow brought an unexpected St David's Day holiday for schoolchildren.

Roads warning

Up to 5in (12cm) of snow fell on high ground in Northern Ireland, with snow falls particularly heavy in the north and west, as temperatures dropped to about -3C (26F).

Hundreds of schools in Scotland were closed for a second day as blizzards and freezing temperatures hit northern parts.

In south Wales, trains were cancelled while in the rest of the country and Scotland, treacherous road conditions were reported.

The Highways Agency said "Drivers are advised to slow down and leave plenty of room between vehicles, as it can take up to 10 times longer to slow down or stop in wet or icy conditions," said a spokesperson.

If you have any pictures of the icy weather, send them or your short video clips to:

Email: yourpics@bbc.co.uk

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When taking photos or filming, please do not endanger yourself or others, or take unnecessary risks.

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