Three inches of snow falls in the west of England

PA

It wasn't forecast, but a significant covering of snow fell in parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and North Dorset last night, with more expected to fall throughout the day.

BBC News reports that areas including Bath, Frome and Radstock in the Mendips were affected, with up to six inches of snow reported in some areas.

Buses and train services were cancelled and Wiltshire Police said that several vehicles had become stuck in snow near Bradford-on-Avon. Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) Council said they it had been caught unaware and had been unable to send out gritters because the roads were too wet.

The Daily Mail reports that the snowfall also surprised residents of Sherborne in Dorset, who woke up to an inch of snow when they expected sunshine.

Charlie Powell, forecaster at the Met Office, told the Daily Mail: "It has been incredibly cold recently and the snow was caused by an area of low pressure coming in from the North West.

"As it moved thorough the south the temperatures dropped to low single figures causing a small handful of places to have snow overnight such as Devon and Dorset.

"It came down fast but it isn't set to last. Next week the temperatures are set to rise to about 12C but it will still be unsettled."

Government forecasters said that the North Downs, South Downs and Chilterns were expected to have had snow by lunchtime today, with sleet later.

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