Britain's harshest winter in decades is wreaking havoc throughout the country as snow and ice hit airports and roads.

The heaviest hit parts of the country are Scotland and northern England, although millions of people in London and the south-east woke up to heavy snow after storms spread overnight. It's expected that up to 40 centimetres of snow will fall in the southern counties and bitterly cold weather is forecast to continue for the next couple of weeks.

The cold weather has brought sunny news to many pupils with thousands of schools being forced to close. Public transport systems have experienced major disruption as rail operators announced reduced services. In Hampshire, the military had to be called in to rescue stranded drivers and passengers in some 1000 vehicles when snow blocked the A3 overnight.

The country's biggest salt mine warned it was having to ration supplies because it wasn't possible to meet demand from all local authorities fighting to keep roads gritted and accessible.

London Gatwick Airport as well as airports in Exeter, Bristol and Cardiff are closed. London Heathrow, Luton and Birmingham airports are open but suffering delays and cancellations.

Photo Humber Bridge in Hull, England by EPA