Parents and workers who successfully dropped their kids off at school or reached the office this morning didn’t have long to bask in their achievement as they faced a similar challenge in getting home again this evening.
Some kind bosses worried about staff safety permitted them to clock off early to avoid the slush before it freezes.
And some schools adopted the same approach, telling parents to pick up their children by 2pm before it got dark.
Last night roads grounded to a halt under the snowfall after an apparent paucity of gritter drivers meant roads were ripe for the powder laying.



A number of schools and businesses closed early so children and staff got home before dark

Scenes in London this morning showed just how icy it could be overnight again today
Scenes on the M25 and around the country of motorists trapped in their cars also cannot have been missed by managers.
It prompted some to allow their staff to go home early – and schoolchildren were also given an early cut from the learning day.
Woolwich Polytechnic announced: ‘Monday 12th December School will be open for years 7&8 only today, with school closing at 2.20pm.
‘Students in years 9 and 10 should work from home. Work will be set on Teams.’

Footage also shows a group of six people trying to help a black people carrier back onto the road, as a cyclist rides precariously nearby

But their efforts were in vain as the car skids off the street, only just coming to a stop before hitting a fence

Another car is then seen sliding into some bollards, before a bus does the same, though the damage only appeared to be minor
Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead also tweeted out: ‘We want to ensure all students and staff make it home safely.
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‘Take care out there.’
Independent music shop David’s Music in Hertfordshire said: ‘Due to the wondrous snow, we’ll be closing at 3:30pm today, before it gets too dark and icy. Keep safe and warm everyone.’
Hundreds of drivers spent several hours stuck on the M25 in Hertfordshire overnight as snow and ice caused havoc on the roads.
Traffic ground to a standstill with motorists moving several hundred yards in hours as cars skidded and struggled in the heavy snow, while stranded passengers slept on airport floors as they waited for the Arctic blast to pass.
More travel disruption was expected on the roads, railways and at airports, as well as school closures, after snow fell across parts of the UK last night, with up to 10cm more forecast today.
Snow and ice weather warnings are in force from the Met Office across northern Scotland, southeast and eastern England.