Forecasters expect the cold snap to continue - and worsen - over coming days.

BBC: Cold snap causing road problems in north of Scotland

In a statement, the PSNI said motorists had a tendency to leave their vehicles running during a cold snap to de-ice them or warm them up.

BBC: Three arrests over Belfast car thefts

Newry's scheduled game with Lisburn Distillery on Saturday was postponed because of the cold snap and the club's re-arranged match on Tuesday with Dungannon at the Showgrounds is also likely to be in major doubt.

BBC: Newry City defender Emmett Friars asks for transfer

National Hunt meetings were all but wiped out for the first two weeks of the year and even two "all-weather" fixtures fell victim to the cold snap sweeping Britain.

BBC: January review

He said the incident was probably the result of "recent weather changes we are having - particularly heavy rain fall and the start of a cold snap".

BBC: Rock fall closes Jiggers Bank in Shropshire

Stratford-on-Avon District Council said it had carried out collections throughout the cold snap.

BBC: Snow in Coventry

The region has seen above-average winter temperatures up to this point, so this is the first big cold snap, making it feel much more severe, he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Extra gas - including supplies from Belgium and Norway - was necessary to meet rising demand after a 30% rise on normal seasonal use during the cold snap.

BBC: Snow and ice leads to travel delays and school closures