Coldest December since records began as temperatures plummet to minus 10C bringing travel chaos across Britain

    * Millions begin the big Christmas and New Year getaway early as the AA urged motorists to beware of the ‘worst driving conditions imaginable’
    * Quarter of train services disrupted, travel warning in Kent
    * Experts warn of a backlog of up to 4 million of parcels which could remain undelivered this Christmas
    * The NHS issues an urgent appeal for blood donors as concerns grow over shortages
    * Councils reveal plans to share grit amid fears the cold snap could last until January 14
    * Odds shortened even further on a ‘White Christmas’ in some parts of the country next Saturday

Swathes of Britain skidded to a halt today as the big freeze returned - grounding flights, closing rail links and leaving traffic at a standstill.

And tonight the nation was braced for another 10in of snow and yet more sub-zero temperatures - with no let-up in the bitterly cold weather for at least a month, forecasters have warned.

The Arctic conditions are set to last through the Christmas and New Year bank holidays and beyond and as temperatures plummeted to -10c (14f) the Met Office said this December was ‘almost certain’ to become the coldest since records began in 1910.

If you like to read more and pictures and a video click: Mail.Online