Snow, ice sweep Britain, stranding drivers

People sledge in a snow covered park in Sheffield, northern England on Saturday. Motorists in the north of Britain were trapped overnight, as a result of heavy snowfalls.

Snow and icy weather have swept through parts of Britain, stranding drivers and leaving thousands of homes without power.

Snow also covered parts of Switzerland and south-western Germany on Saturday, and up to 40 centimetres (nearly 16 inches) of snowfall was predicted in higher parts of Germany’s Black Forest.

Many motorists in Britain were forced to abandon their cars or were trapped in vehicles after becoming snowed in. Dozens of people travelling from Sheffield to London spent the night in a church after their bus became stuck.

Parts of northern England saw 11 centimetres (4.3 inches) of snow. Western Power Distribution said 36,000 customers were without power.

Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford International closed late on Friday as workers cleared snow from the runways. The airports have reopened.