Forecasters predict more shovelling to come as big freeze continues

Forecasters predict more snow for Scotland and Northern England today, with temperatures potentially hitting -10C (14F) overnight.

Further snowfalls could see Heathrow disrupted again and traffic reduced to a snail’s pace as the great half-term getaway begins this week.

The airport could be hit by up to half an inch of snow just days after bosses were forced to cancel half of the flights.

Nick Prebble, forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: “Much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland will be dominated by cold high pressure extending down from Russia.

“Road temperatures in winter can be a couple of degrees Centigrade lower than the air temperature, so there’s still a risk of ice on the roads over the weekend and potentially into next week.”

While the harsh weather has the potential of causing misery, one man’s panic turned to joy yesterday when he successfully delivered his baby daughter after the mother unexpectedly went into labour outside their home in the snow.

Marek and Anna Staslow left their home off Quebec Road, Norwich, on Monday to travel to the Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital but as they walked to their car it soon became clear it was too late and the baby was on its way.

Mr Staslow was able to deliver his second daughter, Nina, in the snow with the help of an ambulance crew on the phone.

The thick blanket of snow that fell over parts of the UK at the weekend caused major travel disruption with a spike in road crashes and breakdowns.

The RAC said it had seen the busiest February weekend in its history.