GOING SNOWHERE

Icy chaos on runways roads & rails | New fears of floods as thaw begins

-  ADAM ASPINALL and JEREMY ARMSTRONG

COMMUTERS could face chaos today after much of Britain was snowed to a standstill yesterday.

Thousands of travellers were left stranded as freezing conditions closed roads, railways and airports.

Temperatures plunged as low as -11C in Scotland and northern England was badly affected by heavy snow and ice, while weather warnings remained in place across the country.

Runways closed at Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and LeedsBradford before re-opening.

Flight cancellations and delays led to passengers being stranded or taken to other airports, as far away as Paris.

Rhodri Morgan and his family were left stuck in Berlin for four extra days after an initial cancellation on Friday was made worse by the weather.

They are hoping to return to Manchester. Flight operator Ryanair paid for their hotel on Friday night but it has not been able to put the family on a replacement flight until

tomorrow. Rhodri said: "I work as an A&E manager so I am missing the busiest time and [the children's] school and university plans have been hit as well." His wife's job as a nanny has also been affected.

He added: "It's probably cost me in the region of £900." Yesterday there were 107 UK warnings in places where flooding was deemed "possible", and 11 areas where it was "expected".

In flood-hit Warrington, Cheshire, 130 residents had to be evacuated.

Deputy mayor Mo Hussain said: "They went into local hotels. We have given as much help as we can, it has been a very difficult time."

On Merseyside, health bosses were warning that all hospital services are facing major winter pressure.