As children headed out in heavy snow to play yesterday blizzard conditions wreaked a toll of serious injury and danger.
One teenager was in a critical condition in hospital last night after coming off his sledge, while transport ground to a halt and charities warned the extreme weather was putting many vulnerable people at risk.
A motorist was killed in a car crash in the snow on the A12 northbound between Kelvedon and Marks Tey, Essex, while another person trapped in the car was taken to hospital.
And there appears to be little respite in sight with so-called "Blue Monday" – said to be the most depressing day of the year based on weather, debt and the post-Christmas blues – bringing more commuter chaos today.
For the third day running, Britain was hit by a four inch covering of snow yesterday, with London and the South East suffering first before the weather front swept north, spreading into the Midlands, North East Wales, East Anglia and central England.
A 16-year-old boy was last night still being treated for head injuries sustained in a high-speed sledging accident. He was out near Flatts Lane Country Park, Middlesbrough, yesterday afternoon when he came off and had to be airlifted to hospital.
A woman of 40 also had to be airlifted when she hurt her leg falling from her sledge in Great Ayton, North Yorks.
And one man was in hospital after suffering a "vicious assault" after asking yobs to stop throwing snowballs at him and his wife.
The gang of schoolboys turned on the couple, in their 30s, shouting racist abuse and leaving the man with a fractured skull in Ashford, Kent.
Police said four boys, aged between 16 and 17, had been arrested.
As daytime temperatures struggle to rise above freezing, widespread frost and ice will carpet the UK for much of the next week with the mercury set to drop to a chilly -10C in places.
Met forecaster Adam Scaife said "sudden stratospheric warming" was behind the wintry blast. He said: "It's pushing the chances of further cold and easterly winds well into February."
The Met Office yesterday raised their alert level to level three, predicting "100% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 0900 on Sunday and 0600 on Thursday in parts of England".
The Amber Alert warned "the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases" could be at greater risk.
Age UK said they expected more calls for help the longer the cold snap goes on.
Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director General, said: "Freezing temperatures could pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of many older people in the coming days.
"We are urging everyone to protect themselves by taking simple steps, such as closing the bedroom window at night and eating warm meals."
But not everyone appreciated such concern for their welfare, as 70 inmates at HMP Birmingham rioted on Friday when they were stopped from exercising outside in case they slipped on ice and hurt themselves as temperatures fell.
And travel chaos continued at Heathrow Airport as bosses cancelled 260 flights yesterday in an attempt to ease the congestion.
Since the snow arrived on Friday 750 flights from the airport have been shelved with passengers forced to sleep on the floor as they waited for news.
Another 100 flights due to go today were cancelled last night as travellers were told to check with their airline before making their way to the airport.
Meanwhile Birmingham Airport bosses took the decision to suspend all flights as workers tried to clear the snow from runways and around the terminal.
London City Airport also fell foul of the weather when it was closed just before 6.30pm for the night and all remaining flights cancelled.
Bosses hoped to be back in business today.
Eurostar trains to Lille, Brussels and Paris were also hit by cancellations and roads across the country were impassable.
Last night traffic on the clockwise M25 at Enfield, North London, was brought to a standstill because of built-up snow and an overturned van.
Queues built up quickly just after 5pm before Highways Agency officers were able to clear the route and get drivers moving again soon after.
And a minibus carrying tourists on a shopping trip skidded and rolled over yesterday.
Five holidaymakers, thought to be Egyptian, were in hospital last night after the smash in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Edmund King, AA president, said many roads were like "skating rinks" and added: "Snow is still falling heavily in Hertfordshire, Kent, West Midlands and across the South East, spreading north and east. The hidden danger is the sheet ice below the fresh snow on ungritted local roads."
- Not all of Britain let the weather ruin their plans. Farmer Jim Jones, 26, gave his new bride Heather Morris, 24, the ultimate white wedding when he battled through deep snow to get to the church on time – arriving on his tractor for the ceremony in Chirbury, Shrops.
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