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Up to 20cm could fall in some areas, with most of country getting some snow in coming days
Heavy and frequent snow showers were expected today over northern and western Britain with south-west England likely to suffer a similar fate tomorrow as the country battens down the hatches for another freezing weekend.
Airports, rail operators and road gritting and breakdown services were preparing for snowfalls of up to 20cms (8in).
Forecasters warned that nearly all parts of the country could have snow at some stage over the next few days and snow, ice and severe frosts are expected to remain a threat up to Christmas.
The Met Office says it is to early to predict a repeat of the arctic winter of 1963 but more stocks of road salt are being ordered and distributed to local councils.
Philip Hammond, the transport secretary in England, has urged transport operators to try to prevent a repeat of recent delays across the road and rail network and the closure of Gatwick airport.
"We entered this winter better prepared than last year," he said. "However, much of the country has been hit unusually early by severe weather."
Businesses have clamoured for "effective and resilient measures" to avoid further damage to the economic recovery, which took a hit estimated at £4.8bn in the late November snow, according to insurers.
The company RSA warned that similar disruption in the coming freeze could nearly triple that to £13bn, compounded if the last nine days of Christmas shopping were hit.
John Walker, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "We were disappointed that we still haven't learnt the lessons from previous bad weather and that the country yet again ground to a halt."
There is some hope of a let-up in January. The Met Office's long-range forecasts suggests warmer weather in the middle of the month.
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