Storm Emma - as it happened: Thousands of trains and flights cancelled across UK as freezing weather and heavy snow set to continue
Military sent in to free trapped drivers on motorway and flood warnings issued as Storm Emma causes fourth day of disruption
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Your support makes all the difference.The military has been deployed across Britain to rescue drivers trapped in cars and help hospitals keep running as extreme weather continues to wreak havoc across the UK.
Forecasters have warned the UK is “not out of the woods yet” as Storm Emma's strengthening winds cause blizzards and snowdrifts, bringing roads to a standstill and leaving commuters facing the fourth day travel disruption.
All trains out of London Waterloo after 8pm have been cancelled, with operator South Western Railway blaming further heavy snow and gales that are expected.
Passengers on Southeastern rail services became so frustrated at delays near Lewisham, south London that they began walking down the tracks.
Two police forces declared "major incidents" as the Army was drafted in to help rescue those left trapped in their cars, while troops in 4x4 vehicles are shuttling staff at four NHS trusts to hospitals and home visits.
Follow our live blog for updates on the extreme weather and travel disruption as it happened.
Read more weather stories on The Independent.
Scottish airports remain open
Scotland's main airports were open and operating amid "challenging" conditions, although a number of flights remained subject to delays and cancellations.
Glasgow Airport, which was forced to close on Wednesday due to the weather, said its staff had worked continuously overnight to clear the runway and surrounding areas after the worst snowfall it has ever experienced.
Edinburgh Airport deployed 4x4 vehicles to ensure vital staff could get to the airport. It said it had got about a third of its flights in the air and was looking to run a full schedule on Saturday.
EasyJet and Ryanair cancelled operations on Friday at the base in the Scottish capital, with easyJet also halting all flights to and from Glasgow for the rest of the day, as yellow weather warnings for snow remained in place.
Even gritters are struggling with the treacherous weather conditions
A council gritter was damaged after skidding on black ice and ploughing into a tree in Pembrokeshire.
The crew who were working near Tegryn were unhurt but shaken by the incident.
The gritter had to be returned to its depot at Llanfyrnach and has been taken off the road.
Pembrokeshire Council's head of environment and civil contingencies, Richard Brown, said: "If this can happen to one of our gritters and its experienced crew, it shows how careful we have to be when driving in this extreme weather."
Five vehicle crash on A38 in Devon
A Highways England spokesperson has said there has been a crash, caused by the weather conditions, involving eight vehicles on the A38 in Devon.
Flights suspended at London City Airport
All flights have been suspended at London City Airport while snow is cleared from the runway.
Some 153 arriving or departing flights have already been cancelled on Friday.
Swimmer rescued in Dublin after high tides and rough conditions in the area
A video posted to Twitter showed the dramatic rescue of a swimmer in Sandycove, Co Dublin by some quick-thinking bystanders.
One onlooker, who asked not to be named, said: "She entered the water at 12.30 in her swim gear, no doubt a swimmer with her great physique.
"I took pics as I was shocked, but then started to record before all hell broke loose. I thought she was just swimming over to the silver ladder and going to climb up but not sure whether she intended swimming out further or just got dragged beyond the harbour wall, at which point onlookers started to go to her aid.
"A man I spoke to helped her out. I asked him what she said but he said he had to walk away as he was so angry, as were most of the people watching. His wife and himself had swam there this morning as well when it was calmer," the witness added.
A38 in Devon remains closed
A total of 30 cars needed assistance to get past the multi-vehicle crash in Devon
Road closures
There are road closures in place on the A303 in southern England, the A1 in Northumberland and the transpennine routes of the M62, A628 and A66.
Some 200 vehicles were trapped overnight on the M62 were brought off the motorway on Friday morning, Greater Manchester Police said.
Environment Agency issue flood warnings
The Environment Agency has issued 15 flood warnings and 36 flood alerts across the country.
Melting snow and ice could cause further issues once the snowfall comes to an end.
Highways England urges driver to drive only if necessary
Highways England's head of road safety Richard Leonard said: "We are encouraging road users, particularly in the South West, Pennine areas and Northumberland, to drive only if it's necessary.
"Anyone thinking of using the roads should be advised to keep their distance and reduce speed, because even in conditions that seem normal, and the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh grit has not been worked into the carriageway."
Former Royal Ballet School student missing in freezing conditions
A seriously ill former Royal Ballet School student is missing after leaving hospital without shoes in freezing conditions.
Ashleigh Fair, 19, left the Royal Berkshire Hospital at around 9.30am on Thursday, Thames Valley Police said.
She is believed to have taken a taxi from Southern Hill, Reading, and arrived at Marble Arch in central London at 11.37am.
Ms Fair has a life-threatening condition and requires urgent medical assistance, Scotland Yard said.
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