Transport disrupted as snow and ice sweep Britain, Germany

Freezing conditions and heavy snowfall brought more chaos to Britain's transport network on Tuesday, shutting airports and disrupting train services while sub zero temperatures continued in Germany where ice breakers were called out to free waterways around the capital Berlin.The London Met Office said temperatures fell to as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight with as much as 25 cm (9.8 inches) of snow predicted to fall in some areas as the weather front spreads south. There were severe warnings of heavy snow and widespread icy roads across Scotland, northern, central and western England, while more heavy snowfall was expected further south and in London later on Tuesday and on Wednesday. Manchester Airport was closed until 12 p.m. because of heavy snow, and flights were being cancelled at Leeds Bradford and, Glasgow Airports. Many train services across Britain suffered cancellations and delays with severely reduced services on the East Coast mainline from Scotland and northern England to London because of the poor weather. Many motorists were putting on a brave face. I just get home when I get home, said Tony Bayliss, who left his home in Straftford upon Avon at half past three in the morning to drive to the north of England. You just take a day as it comes with this sort of weather.Karen Collins, who runs a roadside cafe, said people were getting used to it.People are laughing it off all the time, you know. It's one or two obviously that are having a few problems and that but, people have got good spirits I think really. High demand for gas prompted Britain's network operator National Grid on Monday to warn consumption may have to be cut, which encouraged producers to increase flows into Britain. The Met Office has said it expected the freezing conditions -- caused by winds coming from the north and east instead of the more usual west and southwest -- to continue into late January after one of the chilliest Decembers on record. In the eastern district of Koepenick, Germany, the Langer See lake was freed from ice chunks to ensure cargo ships could pass freely towards the river Spree.At the local zoo meanwhile, not just polar bears enjoyed a day out in the cold.Christa Angermann said her visit was almost as good as a winter holiday when you go for a walk.You don't meet a lot of people, there is beautiful snow, it's clean and you can walk well. I'm happy, said cheerful Angermann. Another zoo visitor who had a scarf wrapped around her neck and looked as though she was shivering cold said she wasn't too cold.It's not that cold yet, only four below zero today, Christina Sparmann said. Meteorologists predicted the freezing temperatures in Germany will persist for the coming days and announced new snow for the weekend.