Blizzards sweeping in from the north have disabled London - with the worst snow for 18 years. Airports and major roads are shut, and the railways are severely affected.
London buses have been withdrawn. There is only a skeleton service on London Underground. Taxi firms are not taking passengers because of the dangerous road conditions. According to a spokesman for a Crystal Palace cab firm, "Even the drug dealers aren't going out!".
The weather is believed to have originated in Siberia, and Government investigators are checking to see if there is any truth in the rumour that the Russians have caused this bad weather so that the UK burns more gas to keep warm, thus making the Russians richer.
Council gritting lorries will be out Wednesday or Thursday, "when it's less dangerous" said a council official.
