It was heavy going on the A458 at Trewern this morning.

The big freeze escalated today as Britain was battered by a third wave of heavy snow bringing fresh misery for people in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Snow showers hit the region overnight – and were continuing throughout today – with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark.

More than 30 schools were closed today and there was widespread traffic chaos as drivers struggled to contend with untreated minor roads.

• School closures – click here
• Forecast – click here

Morning rushhour saw long tailbacks on the A41 around Cosford and Albrighton and a string of minor crashes reported to police.

Up to six inches of snow blanketed parts of Mid Wales, while about two inches had fallen in most parts of the county by 9am with even more on high ground.

Billy Payne, forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: “The snow will fall over South West England and Wales before gradually moving north east to affect the Midlands and South East England.

“There will be widespread accumulations over the next 48 hours with as much as 15cm falling in parts of Wales.”

Today’s poor driving conditions also saw buses cancelled or services scaled down in many areas.

Gatwick Airport and Birmingham International were forced to close their, while the old Severn Bridge was shut both ways.

Herefordshire Council reported that the county had been hit by drifts of up to 6ft (1.83m) on high ground.

The weather put a strain on emergency services with West Midlands Ambulance Service urging people to take precautions.

In Shropshire, Birmingham and Staffordshire, ambulance drivers had to reduce their speeds due to the difficult conditions.

Police issued a warning to drivers to take extra care on roads.

They also reminded children not to stray on to frozen water after some were spotted playing on a frozen canal in north Shropshire.

Children were seen riding their bikes on the iced-up Shropshire Union Canal in Betton Road, Market Drayton, at about 1pm yesterday.

Richard Ewels, a police spokesman, said: “Not only are they risking their own lives but the lives of others who might attempt a rescue if they fall through.”

By Tom Johannsen