Unusually heavy snowfall stranded hundreds of motorists, disrupted trains and shut down schools and airports across Britain on Wednesday as the country suffered through its longest cold snap in nearly 30 years.

The British military was called in overnight to help rescue motorists when up to 1,000 vehicles were caught in a massive snow-related traffic jam in Hampshire, in southern England. Many people were evacuated to nearby rescue centers but some people slept in their vehicles overnight.

Hospitals are being forced to cancel operations amid snow chaos and Britain's longest cold snap since 1981.

Roads are already blocked, public transport severely affected and schools shut down, releasing hundreds of school children to play in the ten inches of snow (25cm) that fell across parts of Hampshire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire overnight.
Hundreds rescued as heavy snow slams Britain - Yahoo! News
Hospitals forced to cancel operations amid snow chaos - Telegraph