Heavy Snow Closes Airports, Wreaks Havoc On Railways And Turns Roads Into Ice Rinks

Forecasters today admitted they were taken by surprise when the heavy snow blanketed the South of England overnight.

Experts wrongly said yesterday that London and the South East would be 'cold and dry' with 'scattered showers - some wintry' in the South West.

They only predicted that snow would settle in the North, with four inches on high ground and just two inches remaining lower down by morning.

Instead, a band of snow wreaked havoc as it moved down across the south of England, with the unprepared home counties awaking to wintry scenes and travel chaos.

Met Office spokesman Mark Wilson admitted today that forecasters had not expected the extreme weather.