A COLD snap and snow showers dealt something of a dizzying blow to Worcestershire this weekend, though not quite as widespread and chaotic as the Beast from the East earlier this month.

The Met Office reported 25cm of snow to fall in parts of the UK in the early hours of Sunday, and gritters were out in force across Worcestershire from Saturday afternoon.

A bitter breeze but bright sunshine throughout much of St Patrick’s Day, rapidly deteriorated to temperatures of zero degrees from the early evening, and continued to drop.

In just one of the acts of heroism to come from the bad weather, Malvern-based digger and groundworks firm, JWH, offered to give lifts to any doctors, nurses or vulnerable people on Sunday, using its two 4x4 vehicles from the early hours.

The national media reported that more than 10,000 frustrated travellers were left stranded after 146 flights were cancelled in and out of Heathrow on Sunday morning.

Closer to home, Birmingham’s runway was cleared of snow early yesterday morning, while the runway at East Midlands Airport was briefly closed on Friday night.

With much of the snowfall in Worcestershire having stopped before midday on Sunday, a weather warning remained in place for the rest of the day.

The Met Office's yellow weather warning for snow and ice was in place until 11.55pm, having been issued at just after midnight.

The weather service said: "Snow showers are likely to continue throughout Sunday, with an increased chance that longer spells of snow will affect some areas.

"Southern and eastern regions look most vulnerable overnight and early on Sunday and then south-western areas of England and south Wales into the daytime."

It went on to say that separate amber warnings were in force for certain areas "most likely to see disruption" – with heavier snow largely confined to southwest England.

The Met Office also warned about the dangers of damaged trees and other structures and said travel delays on roads, as well as rail and air travel, were likely.