Heavy snow falls across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Several UK airports are closed and train services have been canceled due to heavy snowfall in many areas.
Police in Northern Ireland – where conditions are said to be the worst in 25 years – and parts of Scotland are warning against non-essential travel.
At least 800 schools in Wales, 500 in Scotland and 700 in Northern Ireland closed.
More snow is forecast later in western areas and on Saturday, 10in (25cm) is possible in Wales and southern England.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for heavy snow – up to 8in – in many places, including Orkney and Shetland, Highlands and Outer Hebrides, Grampian, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Midlands, and the south-east and south-west of England.
Forecasters have warned that in parts of Scotland temperatures could drop to -20C (-4F) overnight where snow is lying.
Strong winds will cause the snow to drift in some areas and ice could be a problem anywhere in the UK, with temperatures struggling to get above freezing.
The BBC Northern Ireland weather centre said the current snow situation was probably the worst widespread fall in about 25 years.
In 2000, similar amounts of snow fell in about four hours, but were restricted to eastern counties.
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