Met Office issues red alert for Wales with blizzards and 12inches of snow expected as public warned to stay inside and avoid all travel

• Graham Clark, 73, was found by a passer-by in his narrow country lane with serious head injuries
• A teacher fell through ice into a canal in Huddersfield and had to be rescued by bystanders
• Drivers in Northamptonshire have been throwing rocks at gritting trucks and overtaking them on slippery roads
• Four accidents in Dover today and two serious fires this week caused by householders trying to stay warm
• Heaviest snowfall of the winter is expected tomorrow night and into Friday
• Temperatures plunged to -9C overnight and sub-zero conditions forecast to continue

Families were warned to stay inside tomorrow as blizzards hit Britain tonight and the Met Office issued its first red warning for snow in two years.

The rare and most serious severe weather warning - issued for Wales - means everyone should take action to protect themselves and others from the impact of extreme weather.

Widespread disruption to travel and other services is likely, with drivers and transport users advised to avoid dangerous areas and have back-up plans.

Up to 12 inches of snow are forecast to blanket the country, with the North West, Wales and the West Midlands worst affected.

The first crash happened when a van toppled on to its side just after 6am, but the driver escaped serious injury were reported.

While officers were dealing with both incidents they discovered a car in a ditch, and later, on another stretch of the same road, a van crashed into a traffic sign at 7.40am.

The Highways Agency has issued an amber alert and has placed ploughs and snow blowers on stand-by.

Steve Crosthwaite, head of the agency's National Traffic Operations Centre, urged drivers to allow more time for morning travel.

'During periods of severe weather we also suggest people consider whether their journey is essential,' he said. 'They may want to delay their travel until conditions improve and to allow our winter fleet the chance to treat the roads.'

London Fire Brigade urged caution during the 'Arctic blast'.

Its warning follows two serious fires this week caused by householders taking extreme measures to keep warm.

Yesterday, fire crews were called to rescue an elderly man from a serious blaze in Wembley, north London, which is believed to have been caused by a halogen heater being placed too close to flammable items.

Last week, firefighters battled flames in Fulham, west London, after an electric blanket was left on for the weekend.

A teacher plunged through ice in Huddersfield yesterday and a pensioner in Suffolk died after a fall.

Graham Clark was found with serious head injuries in the narrow country lane beside his cottage in Buxhall near Stowmarket, Suffolk, on Tuesday.

Officers at first thought he might have been killed in a hit-and-run but are now looking at the 'possibility' he fell over while clearing snow.

His body was found at 3.40pm on Tuesday by a passer-by who dialled 999 for police and an ambulance. Mr Clark was treated by paramedics, but died at the scene.

The pensioner, who lived alone with his dogs, was described as a 'caring man' by villagers.

Neighbour David Green said: 'He had a heart of gold and was loved by his neighbours.

'I heard sirens and blue flashing lights. We went out and heard them again and again. There was a huge number of police.'

Neighbour Sally Thomas described Mr Clark as a 'dear chap' and 'a lovely bloke'.

 

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'An investigation is still being carried out. One possibility is that he was clearing his driveway of snow and then hit his head, but all possibilities are being investigated.'

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Elsewhere, a Bangladeshi woman on her first day in Huddersfield had a narrow escape when she fell through ice into the freezing canal yesterday.

It was only prompt action by bystanders at Aspley Basin which prevented a tragedy in the icy waters.

Ulfat Jabin Chowdhury, 38, had just travelled for 20 hours from her home town of Dhaka, where she works as a teacher.

Carrying a suitcase and rucksack, she was tired and disorientated when she stepped on to thin ice and plunged into the canal next to Aspley's Premier Inn.

The woman was wrapped in a blanket and given dry clothes. Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene.

Mrs Chowdhury added: 'I would like to thank everybody. I am physically and mentally fit and am quite OK. It is great to feel that the British people are ready to help when someone is in danger.'

Meanwhile, impatient motorists have been pelting ice gritting trucks with rocks in Northamptonshire because they are too slow.

Drivers have been causing even more problems in the wintry conditions by overtaking the trucks.

Northamptonshire Council revealed that disgruntled drivers have been pulling over to throw stones and bricks at its vehicles.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Highways said there had been numerous incidents of drivers coming under attack while spreading grit across the county.

But mechanic Karl Newman, 19, from Northampton, added: 'They are such a pain. They scratch the paintwork on my car and they drive so slow. They should go out in the middle of the night when nobody is around.'
Temperatures have dipped well below freezing in the low-lying Fens of East Anglia, but skaters are being warned not to take to the ice.
Despite the sub-zero weather, ice on the lakes and ponds still isn't thick enough to skate on, Fenland Ice Skating said.
The group said 'If the frosty weather continues for a few days, there may be a chance to skate.
'Danger on Welney Wash and other Fenland venues will be high due to deeper water than usual making it visually difficult to establish where shallow fields end, and rivers and ditches start.'
Met Office Severe Weather Warnings have been issued for the heavy snow, with a yellow ‘be aware’ warning covering most of the UK. 

The more serious amber ‘be prepared’ warning is in place for parts of Wales, West Midlands and the North West where 4-6in of snow is expected, with as much as 10in on higher ground.
Met Office spokesman Dan Williams said: 'It will be pretty chilly on Thursday night with the coldest places seeing temperatures of -3C.

'The UK will struggle to get above 0C in the East. Elsewhere is a bit milder at 2C.'
He said snow is expected to cause major disruption for commuters and people hoping to get away for the weekend.
The Met Office warned people to check before travelling, and said parents should make sure their children's schools are open.

Mr Williams added: 'We will see widespread snow across the country on Friday morning, just in time for rush hour. Most places will see 2cm to 5cm of snow and Western areas and Scotland will see 10cm to 15cm of snow.

'There will be fairly strong winds so snow will drift around so we'll see blizzard-like conditions, which could potentially cause transport disruptions.

'People should be prepared to change their plans and don't travel unless it's absolutely necessary.

'There could be chaos on the roads and trains so check before you travel and keep up to date on any changes. The rest of the weekend will be slightly warmer and drier.'