Snow has been affecting rush hour travellers

People living in north London have reported up to three inches settling on the ground in some areas.

The snow showers started just as rush hour began and traffic is delayed on the M25 as motorists slow down in the wet and icy conditions.

Tubes and trains are also suffering problems and some flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been cancelled.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded after British Airways cancelled 36 flights out of Heathrow, in west London, and Gatwick, in Sussex.

In Crystal Palace, south London, people have abandoned their cars as the snow is making it impossible to drive up the surrounding slopes.

Our plans are being further enhanced so we can learn any lessons and improve our response to future incidents LU statement

A section of the Metropolitan Line has been suspended between Chesham Station and Chalfont and Latimer Station.

Some Northern Line stations have also been closed.

The cold weather was also blamed for disrupting Tubes in the morning rush hour.

Some services on parts of the Tube network which are above ground, particularly in north and west London, were unable to run.

Thousands of passengers on sections of the Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Central and Jubilee lines were affected.

Morning closures

London Underground (LU) has apologised for the problems saying contingency plans did not work properly.

There were also delays on South Eastern, Chiltern and West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN) trains.

By 1200 GMT on Wednesday there had been no service between Chesham and Watford or between Chalfont and Latimer and Chesham on the Metropolitan Line.

Chiltern Railways, which uses an adjoining section of track, was unable to run services between Aylesbury and Marylebone.

The Central Line between North Acton and West Ruislip in the west and between Woodford and Hainault in the east was closed during the morning.

'Improve our response'

LU said the problems were caused by ice on the tracks.

In a statement, it said: "London Underground apologises for the disruption to services this morning due to ice forming on some rails.

"London Underground has comprehensive contingencies in place which have been developed over a number of years. Obviously last night these did not fully work in all areas.

"Our plans are being further enhanced so we can learn any lessons and improve our response to future incidents."