UK weather latest updates: RAF mobilised to help hospitals and vulnerable people amid freezing conditions as gas shortage warning issued
Britain faces another day of sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and blizzard-like conditions
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Hundreds of drivers spent the night in their cars amid bitterly cold temperatures after becoming stranded on roads as heavy snow continues to cripple the UK's transport system.
Schools around the country were to be closed on Thursday as Britain braced for another day of sub-zero temperatures, icy blasts and "blizzard-like" conditions.
Many roads have been left impassable by drifts of snow, while trains and flights have also been hit by delays and cancellations as Storm Emma rolls in from the Atlantic and meets the chilly Siberian air of the so-called "Beast from the East".
Follow for live updates as the country faces another day of disruption.
Temperatures plunged to lows of -6C overnight, and the Met Office warned it could feel as cold as -11C during the day as winds continue to strengthen.
Kind locals handed out donated food and drinks to those stuck on the M80 in Scotland last night.
Rachel Muircroft said in a series of Twitter post her journey from Inverness to Glasgow by coach took 10 hours.
Her bus was stuck in a traffic jam for more than three hours when a man came on board.
"A guy who lives nearby just came on handing out water and snacks donated by his local shop," she said.
"What a guy! That’s the Scotland way!"
Young girl dies after car crashes into house in Cornwall
A seven-year-old girl has died after a car collided with a house in Cornwall, police have said.
The girl, believed to be a pedestrian, suffered life-threatening injuries and was declared dead at the scene in Bodrigan Road in Looe.
Devon and Cornwall Police were called to reports of a Nissan car colliding with a house at about 2.30pm.
A force spokesman said: "Her next of kin has been informed. Localised closures are in place as emergency services attend this incident."
Drivers have been asked to avoid the area.
Weekend forecast
Storm Emma will continue to bring rain and snow to the UK over the weekend.
Temperatures should start to rise from around 4pm on Saturday, although more snow is expected on Sunday
Is the snow going to carry on affecting matches? Here are the answers.
Wondering whether the snow is going to affect a match? Find out here:
The Big Issue calls off sponsored walk
A sponsored walk aiming to raise £100,000 for The Big Issue has been called off because of the extreme weather.
The walk, planned for Friday night in London, was the biggest fundraising event for the Big Issue Foundation.
The charity is now calling on supporters to sign-up to a virtual fundraising event, The Big Step Challenge, to support Big Issue vendors to take positive steps away from the streets.
People can take part anywhere in the country by using a phone or computer to reach a 10,000 step target on a day between March 12-25.
Stephen Robertson, chief executive of The Big Issue Foundation, said: "It is with deep regret that we took the decision to cancel The Big Night Walk due to severe weather conditions.
"Our work continues regardless and I am hopeful that participants will continue to fundraise, despite the cancellation, in the knowledge that every penny raised is vital in our support work and the journey of change we try so hard to create for Big Issue vendors."
Yesterday it emerged a record number of homeless people had been flagged to the authorities because of the freezing temperatures.
Trials in Scotland cancelled
Trials at 15 courts in Scotland on Friday have been cancelled due to the extreme weather.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service has advised that a number of hearings will not take place over safety fears.
Courts affected include Glasgow, Edinburgh, Livingston, Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, Hamilton, Alloa, Stirling, Falkirk, Paisley, Dumbarton, Airdrie, Greenock, Perth and Coatbridge.
Free doughnuts for stranded drivers on the A1
A Greggs delivery driver has been thanked for handing out cakes, pasties and doughnuts to stranded drivers on the A1.
He unloaded the treats from the back of the lorry and shared them out with motorists who had been parked up for hours at Lindisfarne, Northumberland.
Mechanical engineer Les Goff from Leeds was also stuck and helped the driver Jon Gowing to share them out.
Mr Goff, a guitar technician, was travelling home from Edinburgh when he got stuck.
Speaking from the Lindisfarne Inn on the A1 after being trapped by the weather all day, he said: "The traffic had been stopped for a couple of hours so I went for a walk for a couple of miles to see if I could help, but I still couldn't see the start of the queue.
"I was walking back down the hill when I saw the Greggs guy at the back with the tail-lift and he just said 'Do you want some cakes'?
"He asked me to take some to the other drivers and he walked up the traffic and I walked down the traffic with doughnuts, vanilla slices and cakes, handing them out.
"He was a top guy. He said if he hadn't delivered them by a certain time, they would go to waste.
"Obviously it was freezing, I couldn't feel my fingers and toes as I was walking along with this tray of cakes."
Roisin Currie, people and retail director at Greggs said: "We are incredibly proud of Jon and his act of kindness in what must have been a very tough situation for him and all the other poor people stuck on the A1 in this cold weather.
"We hope that his kind gesture was able to help make everyone's day a little bit better.
"Well done again Jon, a shining example of how we do things at Greggs."
An abandoned car on the A1 near Peterborough (PA)
Who needs to go to Seoul when there's this much snow in the UK
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