Icebox Britain! Met Office issues new snow and ice warning… as vast swathes of UK are blanketed white after Storm Arwen’s 100mph winds left three dead

• Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in UK as freezing conditions continue 
• Met Office warned of risk of ‘wintry showers and icy stretches’ after Storm Arwen wreaked havoc across UK 
• Temperatures are expected to plunge in some regions, with -1C forecast in Manchester and Newcastle
• Do have any weather stories or know anyone affected by the storm? Email [email protected]

Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice as freezing conditions continue to sweep across the UK in the aftermath of Storm Arwen.    

The Met Office has warned of a risk of ‘wintry showers and icy stretches’ after 100mph winds and snow wreaked havoc across the country this week, causing damage to buildings, road closures and train delays. 

Temperatures are expected to plunge in some regions across the country, with -1C (33.8F) forecast in Manchester and Newcastle, and snow showers expected to become more extensive over parts of Scotland and the North West of England. 

Today, snow covered fields were spotted in the village of Stainton in North Yorkshire, and abandoned vehicles were covered in snow and ice near Consett, in County Durham, after heavy snowfall in the area overnight.

It comes as forecasters predict further wintry showers in the east and a band of rain, sleet and snow for parts of Scotland.  

The showers will continue to move across western areas of the country on Thursday before a warmer air mass brings heavy showers on Friday – which is expected to continue into the weekend.  

A cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency on Friday is set to remain in place until Monday, prompting advice to people to try to stay warm and look out for those most at risk from the effects of the chilly conditions such as the elderly and anyone with heart and lung problems.

The cold spell comes after three people were killed when trees were blown over in strong winds as Storm Arwen hit on Friday.   

Vehicles attempt to travel in Biggin, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, amid freezing conditions and snow this morning

A man digs out a car from snow in High Green in the Yorkshire Dales, as freezing conditions continue to sweep across the UK in the aftermath of Storm Arwen

Motorists gather by a stuck HGV along the snow-covered A515 near Biggin, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, amid freezing conditions

A group of people look out over the city of Edinburgh from Calton Hill as forecasters predict further wintry showers in the east and a band of rain, sleet and snow for parts of Scotland

Joe Harris and his daughter Rosie, 7, sledge downhill as snow falls on the Town Moor in Newcastle this morning

A motorist stands by the side of the snow-covered A515 near Biggin, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, amid the freezing conditions

A police vehicle drives by a stuck HGV on the snow-covered A515 near Biggin, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, amid freezing conditions 

A  swimmer from West Lothian Dippers takes a dip in the icy water in Winchburgh, West Lothian, as the UK braces itself for more snow

Swimmers face the icy waters in Winchburgh, West Lothian,  as forecasters warm of a risk of ‘wintry showers and icy stretches’ 

On Friday, around 50 punters at Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub, in Richmond were trapped in overnight after an icy blizzard dumped 5ft of snow after they travelled there to watch an Oasis tribute band called ‘Noasis’ perform.

By 9pm it became clear that nobody would be able to make the journey home and many had to sleep in makeshift beds on the floor of the bar. 

The 17th Century Tan Hill Inn is around 10 miles from the nearest main roads, but the lanes leading to it had been blocked by snow or fallen power lines.

Pub owner Mike Kenny said: ‘We recommended anyone in the pub to stay out rather than endanger life on the snow covered moors. No one is going anywhere yet. The police advised we all stay out for now. Our snowplough is snowed in!’

Punters accused of faking injuries by Wetherspoons pub

A Wetherspoons pub accused customers of faking injuries when a bar ceiling collapsed during Storm Arwen.

Customers fled the historic building of The North and South Wales Bank pub in Wrexham, North Wales, when chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling.

The pub chain giant alleged two customers ‘pretended’ to have been injured in the Friday night drama as Storm Anwen rocked the area.

A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: ‘At 10:23pm the ceiling inside the N&S Wales Bank to the right of the bar collapsed. Staff called the emergency services and evacuated the pub immediately.

‘No customers or staff were injured although two customers pretended they had been hit but when confronted by the police and Wetherspoons staff looking at CCTV it showed clearly that no customers were struck by any debris.’

The pub remained shut over the weekend for safety checks.

The historic building built in 1905 was a major bank in the town before becoming a Wetherspoon’s pub.

Wetherspoons has confirmed no staff or customers were injured during the incident.

On social media on regular said: ‘There was a big bang and a lot of dust. But I didn’t see anyone hit by the plaster.’

The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at 10.26pm following reports of two potentially injured customers.

But it said the ‘potentially injured’ customers had left by the time paramedics arrived and the team was stood down.

Footage filmed inside the pub shows customers rushing to get out of the way of the falling debris. 

The pub will remain closed until further notice while a structural engineer, builder and architect assess the damage.

At least one couple were rescued after they tried to camp outside the pub and the Inn’s BnB guests were advised to keep their bags packed in case a plough makes a path so they can try to escape.

The Met Office’s rare red weather warning expired early on Saturday, but the forecaster said that amber and yellow warnings for wind remained in place.

Police said one storm victim, from Lancaster, was killed at around 11pm on Friday night on Vicarage Road in Ambleside, Cumbria. 

And another person was killed when a tree fell on his car on the B977 in Aberdeenshire around 5pm on Friday. 

Francis Lagan, head teacher of St Mary’s Primary School in Maghera, died after a falling tree struck his car in Antrim, Northern Ireland, on Friday. 

Following his death, Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney said: ‘I was shocked and very saddened to learn about the death of a motorist after a tree fell on his car while travelling along the Dublin Road in Antrim town on Friday evening.

‘The victim of this tragedy, Francis Lagan, was a highly respected South Derry school principal, who made an immense contribution to the community which he served. Francis was a renowned Maghera educationalist and civic leader.

‘My thoughts and sympathies are with his family, school colleagues and students, and the wider community of Maghera, where he was held in very great regard.’

St Mary’s deputy head Martina Bradley wrote on the school’s website: ‘It is with great pain and sadness… that I have to inform you of the untimely death of our much-loved principal Mr Lagan. May his gentle soul rest in peace.’

In a social media post, St Patrick’s College in Maghera, where Mr Lagan was a pupil in the 1990s, said: ‘Education in south Derry has lost a giant in his prime.’ 

Police urged people to travel only if absolutely necessary amid the strong winds after roads were closed by fallen debris in the worst-hit parts of Scotland this weekend.

Coastguards also asked Storm Arwen sightseers to stay away from the sea, warning: ‘No selfie is worth killing yourself for’.

On Friday night part of a ceiling at a Wetherspoons’ in Wales collapsed above some of the customers during the storm and the premises had to be evacuated.

Punters were removed from the premises of the North and South Bank pub in Wrexham shortly after 10.20pm after plaster chunks fell, but fortunately no staff or customers were injured.  

A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: ‘At 10:23pm the ceiling inside the N&S Wales Bank to the right of the bar collapsed. Staff called the emergency services and evacuated the pub immediately.

‘No customers or staff were injured although two customers pretended they had been hit but when confronted by the police and Wetherspoons staff looking at CCTV it showed clearly that no customers were struck by any debris.’

The pub remained shut over the weekend for safety checks.   

The Welsh Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at 10.26pm following reports of two potentially injured customers.

But it said the ‘potentially injured’ customers had left by the time paramedics arrived and the team was stood down.

LNER train services north of Newcastle were also ground to a halt by high winds, heavy rain and snowfall, while ScotRail services were disrupted between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Dunblane and Stirling after a barn was blown onto the line close to Polmont, near Falkirk. 

A woman walks along a snowy path on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland, as the UK braces itself for more cold weather

People take photos in the snow in Edinburgh, Scotland, as the Met Office warns of a risk of ‘wintry showers and icy stretches’ after 100mph winds and snow wreaked havoc across the country this week

A runner braves the elements as snow falls on the Town Moor in Newcastle this morning and parts of the region continue to experience harsh weather conditions 

Vehicles attempt to travel along the snow-covered A515 near Biggin, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, as icy weather continues to hit the UK

Snow is cleared from the pitch prior to the cinch Premiership match at The Tony Macaroni Stadium in Livingston

People walk in the snow on Calton Hill in Edinburgh after Storm Arwen brought high winds and snow to north and eastern parts of the UK

One swimmer takes a step towards the icy lake in West Lothian as parts of Scotland prepare for more snow 

The fire  snow of the year is seen at Seaburn seafront looking towards Roker Lighthouse this morning as the nation wakes up to freezing conditions

A group of joggers take in the chilly climate as they go for a run in Richmond Park south-west London this morning

Snow covered fields at the village of Stainton, North Yorkshire, after Storm Arwen wreaked havoc across the nation on Friday night

A  dog walker makes her way across snow covered ground near Consett, in County Durham, after heavy snowfall in the area overnight

Abandoned vehicles are covered in snow and ice near Consett, in County Durham, after heavy snowfall in the region

Sheep graze in a snow covered field near High Green in the Yorkshire Dales as the Met Office warns of a risk of ‘wintry showers and icy stretches’

Snow covered fields are spotted in the village of Stainton, North Yorkshire, amid freezing conditions in the aftermath of Storm Arwen

A person walks across a snow covered hill near the Angel of the North in Gateshead as the North East continues to experience freezing conditions

A cold weather alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency on Friday will also remain in place until Monday, prompting advice to people to try to stay warm

All Avanti West Coast services North of Carlisle were cancelled on Saturday, with customers ‘strongly advised’ not to attempt to travel on the route. Other services are running but may be subject to delays of 120 minutes.

TransPennine Express customers were urged not to travel, with services between Newcastle and Edinburgh cancelled. 

And in North Wales, ITV was forced to pre-record Friday night’s live episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! amid concerns that poor weather would interfere with the broadcast around Gwrych Castle.         

Wind speeds reached 87mph in Orlock Head, County Down and Inverbervie on the north-east coast of Scotland saw gusts of 78mph.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it had been dealing with a ‘large’ number of incidents late on Friday ’caused by the current weather conditions including many fallen trees and roofs being blown off structures’. 

A number of councils in Scotland also reported power cuts, and Electricity North West responded to a high number of cuts affecting thousands of properties in Cumbria and Lancashire. 

And North West Motorway Police said around 120 lorries were ‘stuck in the snow’ on the M62 at junctions 21 and 22 and urged motorists to avoid the area. Tweeting pictures of the motorway blanketed in white, they said snow ploughs had been deployed.

A Met Office statement said: ‘People should stay away from the coast as waves and debris are a danger to life.’ 

While the RNLI tweeted: ‘With #StormArwen named as our first winter storm, we can expect some strong winds and rough weather overnight and into the weekend. We urge people to stay safe near the coast as the severe weather could make our seas and coastlines particularly dangerous.’

In Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, high winds tore the roof off an animal shelter, leading to the death a newborn puppy and gusts of 117mph were recorded on Cairnwell in Scotland’s Highlands, while flurries of snow hit the South and Midlands. 

In the Peak District, lines of abandoned cars stretched along the snowbound Snake Pass, which rises to almost 1,700ft in the Pennines. Part of the M62 near Rochdale was closed, with 120 lorries stuck in the snow after one jack-knifed. 

And Northern Powergrid said severe gales had caused power cuts for more than 55,000 customers in the North East, while 88,000 customers in the Midlands, Cheshire, Merseyside, Wales and the South-West were still without power at midday yesterday. 

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