Snowstorms swept across the UK bringing in the countrys most brutal winter in three decades which brought life to a near standstill,shutting down schools airports,disrupting train services and flights and leaving thousands of motorists stranded on highways which turned icy. A cold snap with plunging temperatures also rained misery in much of the European mainland. Norway hit by a cold front from Siberia was among the coldest places with temperatures falling to minus 41 degrees Celsius. Millions of people in London and south-east of England woke up to heavy snowstorms which made roads icy and dangerous. The British military was called in overnight to help rescue motorists when up to 1,000 vehicles were caught in a massive snow-related traffic jam in Hampshire,in southern England. Many people were evacuated to nearby rescue centres but some people slept in their vehicles overnight. The runway at Londons Gatwick Airport,the second busiest in the country was closed for snow clearance which disrupted flights. Lutyen,Birmingham and Southampton airports were also suffering flight delays and cancellation,while passengers from the citys main Heathrow airport were warned to check details as connections were running hours late. At least four people were reported killed in accidents on icy-roads,the British TV channels reported without giving details.
