The deep freeze

WALES was once again gripped by freezing temperatures and Arctic conditions as the Met Office issued severe weather warnings for further snow and ice across the country.

The south of the country was hit by more snow on Monday, while forecasters warned of treacherous conditions on the roads everywhere as temperatures continued to plummet.

Due to severe weather conditions, Arriva Trains Wales Valleys and Cardiff local lines were temporarily suspended and delays caused by multiple point failures outside Cardiff Central Station. There were severe traffic jams on the A48 in Cardiff and parts of Newport as lanes were closed. Further lane closures have been seen along the M4 on South Wales.

Veolia - which runs buses in Pontypridd, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Bridgend - stopped all services on Monday. Cardiff Airport was closed by the snow.

Hundreds of schools which had not yet broken up for the Chirstmas holidays were forced to close.

Travel misery is likely to blight the UK until after Christmas, with the long-awaited thaw not expected until Boxing Day. Forecasters predict sub-zero temperatures will persist over the coming days, hampering efforts to free up Britain's frozen transport network.

The coldest temperature in the UK overnight was in Crosby, Merseyside, which sunk to minus 17.6C (0.3F). Shap in Cumbria recorded minus 15.4C (4F), along with Capel Curig in north Wales. It was similar temperature at Tyndrum in the Scottish Highlands.