HAILSTONE HORROR: Heatwave interrupted by surprise snow storms

BRITAIN’S weather took another twist as hail and snow storms battered some areas on the first weekend of Spring.

The big freeze came just a week after some parts of the UK had been hotter than Corfu and basking in 17C (63F) sunshine.

The north shivered with temperatures plunging to -4C (25F) last night and giant icicles forming at Teesdale, Co Durham.

Thick snow also covered areas of Cumbria and North Yorkshire as drivers battled through blizzards.

As far south as Devizes, in Wiltshire, residents were battered by a freak hail storm yesterday morning.

“In a matter of days, March has gone from sunshine to snowfall”

Jessica Bridge, Ladbrokes spokeswoman

Local youngsters played with monster hailstones which fell on the town and even made “hailstone cakes”.
Weathermen warn that the cold snap will continue to chill the nation this week. A Met Office spokesman said it would stay mainly cold, windy and rainy, with lows of 2C (35F) and highs of 10C (50F). More snow could also be on the way soon.
Ironically, Winter officially ended last Thursday which marked the start of the Spring equinox.
Bookies are now slashing odds that snow will fall in London, which has already been hit by thunder and hail showers.

Ladbrokes are offering 10-1 that the capital will see a flurry before March finishes next Monday.
Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: “In a matter of days, March has gone from sunshine to snowfall and unfortunately the odds suggest the latter is on the way for the remainder of the month.”
Two men aged 25, from Walsall, are recovering after being rescued from Snowdon in Wales.