Blizzards and freezing conditions brought parts of Britain to a standstill today, leaving pupils stranded at school and miles of tailbacks as motorists became stuck.
In South West England around 1,000 youngsters were still stuck in schools tonight, although that number was decreasing gradually. Cornwall County Council education spokesman Trevor Cooper said it was possible that in one or two cases youngsters would have to stay at school overnight, but food and water was available.
"It is obviously of great concern to parents, but the safety of children must come first," he said. In West Wales, a group of people were taken to hospital after being struck by lightening.
An ambulance spokesman said a man was taken to hospital suffering from burns after being struck in the Preseli mountains earlier today. Four people who were with the man sustained more minor injuries, and were ferried to hospital by car.
An operation to rescue 500 people from vehicles stranded on snow hit Bodmin Moor in Cornwall was under way tonight, as a convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles organised by Devon and Cornwall police began ferrying motorists to a number of reception centres.
There were no reports of injuries, police said. More than 100 vehicles - including coaches - had ground to a halt on the A30, where residents say over 5 inches of snow has fallen. The trapped drivers were being urged to stay put until assistance arrived.
There were 6-mile tailbacks on the A30 westbound and gritters and snowploughs were at the scene but it was proving very difficult to get traffic moving again, Devon and Cornwall police said.
Chief Inspector Ian Aspinall said it was the worst weather he had seen in 19 years.
