The weather conditions are changing by the minute

Robin Tudor Liverpool Airport

Forecasters predict the current wintry weather is set to last until the weekend, but they are warning the cold conditions, the worst in Britain for five years, could continue into the new year.

To add the people's misery there is a risk of flooding when the snow eventually thaws.

Airports across the country have started to reopen but officials say many are not fully operational.

Liverpool Airport, forced to close on Thursday after heavy snowfall, has reopened.

But airport spokesman Robin Tudor warned of further chaos ahead with heavy fog starting to descend on the airport.

"The weather conditions are changing by the minute," he said.

Animals are also battling with the elements

"We are now suffering from fog - not to the extent that we are completely closed but it is affecting some of the smaller flights."

Mr Tudor said around 100 passengers spent the night at the airport and a bus was chartered to take others to city centre hotels.

Edinburgh Airport has also reopened after being forced to close for a second time on Thursday as heavy snow descended on the Scottish capital.

Luton Airport reopened late on Thursday but travellers were advised to check with their airlines for details of cancellations or delays.

On the roads, the M40 southbound between junctions 10 and 9 in Oxfordshire is blocked after an accident involving two lorries on Friday morning at around 0500 GMT.

One of the vehicles was reported to have turned over and ambulances were called to the scene.

Police are warning of delays for some time to come, and motorists should avoid the area if possible.

But some people and animals have enjoyed the weather

Police and motoring groups are once again urging drivers to be cautious and make journeys in remote areas only if necessary.

The AA had received 30,000 breakdown calls by Friday afternoon, making it the busiest day of the year so far.

AA Roadwatch spokeswoman Joanne Webb warned: "We expect it to be bad for drivers, so speeds should be kept down. Don't let other drivers going faster lull you into a false sense of security."

In the Midlands sub-zero temperatures, as low as -13C in some places, and freezing fog have reduced visibility to 100 metres in places.

On the railways, Virgin West Coast reverted to an emergency timetable because of the bad weather and there was disruption of services in the southeast.

The extreme conditions weather have also affected sporting fixtures with Aston Villa's Premiership football clash with Leicester City on Saturday among the matches postponed.

Driving conditions remain treacherous

The snow fall has raised serious questions about who has responsibility for salting and gritting roads.

Local authorities have traditionally done the job but last June five Law Lords ruled that they were not legally obliged to do so.

Councils say despite the ruling they still see gritting as their responsibility and insist they have not cut back on programmes.

But safety organisations are demanding to know why so many roads in the UK are still unsafe.

The AA said the impact of gritting may have been less than normal because there was little traffic out early on Thursday to help break down the snow and ice.

The Lords ruling does not affect the Highways Agency, which is responsible for gritting motorways and major trunk roads. But it looks after just 4% of the country's road network.