The Big Chill begins: Eight inches of snow begins to fall at start of 3-day freeze with travel chaos and 93mph hurricane-strength winds (but why did Heathrow cancel 80 flights before a single flake fell?)

The Big Chill has hit Britain today, forcing flights to be cancelled and bringing chaos on the roads as snow and hurricane-force winds of up to 93mph sweep the country. The cold snap is set to last for three days and has already caused travel disruption and crashes in
Scotland top left and centre, the A77 in Ayrshire) and northern parts of England this morning. Heathrow Airport has been forced to cancel 80 flights as the adverse weather reached the South East. Four British Airways flights from Gatwick Airport have also been cancelled. The Met Office has said up to eight inches of snow could fall, with much of the country under a severe weather warning. High winds have caused widespread problems to roads and rail networks and thousands of properties have been left without power. And forecasters are warning of more dangerous conditions to follow, as the heavy snow (top right, Stirling) is set to spread wider over tomorrow and Saturday. Mixed with continuing high winds, it could lead to 'blizzard-like conditions' with severe weather warnings in place. There were road closures (bottom left and bottom right, the M74 in South Lanarkshire) and accidents all over the country as motorists struggled to cope with the weather.