Uphill struggle for ambulances as freeze hits petrol and food supplies

With transport links already feeling the strain, petrol shortages have been reported, reinforcing local authority calls for people to stay at home unless travel is absolutely necessary.

And as householders across the country turn up the heating, insurers have warned payouts for burst pipes and other leaks could run to hundreds of millions.

Transport chaos caused by arctic conditions gripping the UK saw almost one in three train services nationwide suspended – and only 58 per cent of those operating ran on time.

Icy conditions led to a second night of misery for drivers in South Yorkshire stranded overnight on the A57. Police warned motorists not to leave valuables behind if they are forced to abandon their cars after eight cars were broken into in Treeton Lane, Rotherham.

As authorities pledged to continue their fight to keep roads open, some ambulances were said to be struggling to reach emergencies because of the conditions, with St John Ambulance providing support in West Yorkshire.

"Critical" shortages of petrol have been reported by the RMI Petrol retailer association, but food supplies are also said to be running low at supermarkets and local stores as lorries struggle to make deliveries as shoppers stock up on essentials such as bread and milk.

Temperatures were forecast to drop last night, with parts of Yorkshire falling below minus 10C and patches of freezing fog expected.

A spokesman for the AA said ice is the next big risk for snow-hit Yorkshire.