Tennis fans were left fearing the second wash-out of the first week at Wimbledon today after the start of play was delayed due to heavy rain.

Music fans were today facing a muddy start to the Glastonbury Festival with one inch of rain already soaking the ground and more wet weather predicted for the weekend.

Drivers in parts of Britain hit by snow and ice were warned to only drive today if absolutely necessary after the big freeze wreaked havoc on the roads.

Claudio Ranieri believes the “swimming pool” Stamford Bridge pitch will transform tomorrow’s FA Cup third round showdown with terrible travellers Middlesbrough into a lottery.

Storm force winds with gusts of up to 80mph were expected to batter Southern England and Wales again tonight.

Defence chiefs conceded today that land operations inside Afghanistan would be virtually impossible during winter months that have seen temperatures tumble to minus 21C (minus 6F) in the past.

A massive clean-up operation was under way today after violent thunderstorms wreaked havoc across parts of the UK, emergency services said.