Widespread travel chaos caused by some of the severest winter weather for a century left Christmas commuter plans in tatters and swathes of the country paralysed today.

With wind chill taken into account, temperatures in Shropshire fell as low as minus 19C (minus 2.2F).

It will remain cold for the week ahead, with snow forecast for Thursday.

On Friday, West Midlands Ambulance Service saw its busiest day since regional records began, beating the last three consecutive New Years Eve and New Years Days.

The Trust provided 3,941 responses throughout the West Midlands region – about 120 more responses compared to last year’s New Years Eve/Day, which is traditionally the busiest time for the ambulance service.

Delays and cancellations at a host of UK airports continued to hit thousands of passengers, while plummeting overnight temperatures left almost the entire road network caked in treacherous black ice.

After shutting yesterday, Heathrow said it would not be letting any flights land on its runway, with only a “handful” of departures taking place, pouring misery on hundreds of stranded people who were forced to spend the night in terminals.

Gatwick Airport reopened after planes were grounded for large period of yesterday, but widespread disruption was expected with officials advising passengers to check with their airline before travelling.

Stansted, Luton, Exeter, London City, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton, Cardiff and Birmingham airports also said flights would be subject to delays and cancellations.

Yesterday, Shrewsbury Town’s game with Oxford fell victim to the weather, as did AFC Telford United’s home game against Eastwood.

Shrewsbury Town striker Jake Robinson was forced to abandon his car as he tried to leave Oxford.

He told followers on social network site Twitter that he had to endure an 11 hour journey to get to London.