TRAFFIC chaos has been caused by more snowfall throughout the UK.

The M4, around Bristol and Swindon, the M5 and the M1 in the south Midlands are badly affected.

The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Some 20cm (7.9in) of snow has been reported in parts of the Cotswolds.

Snow is forecast to gradually become lighter today as the band of bad weather moves north, but very little of the existing snow cover is expected to melt.

Some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, the Local Government Association admitted.

Travel disruption across the country has included:.

* The M4 was the worst-affected route with much of the snow lying and lanes closed. Conditions on the M5 around Birmingham are reported to be deteriorating, and the M1, M3, M11 and M40 are also affected.

* The National Rail Enquiries website is reporting disruption to First Great Western and London Midland services.

* There are at least 10 cancellations on the National Express East Coast line and more on Virgin Trains between London Euston and Birmingham.

* Trains are not running on the Severn Beach line near Bristol and First, Wessex and South Gloucestershire bus services are also currently suspended around the city.

* The runways at Aberdeen, Luton and East Midlands airports have been closed. Birmingham and Cardiff Wales airports have reopened, but flights have been delayed.

* At Luton, check-in has been suspended and flights are subject to delay and cancellation. Flights were cancelled at Belfast City Airport, with planes diverted to Belfast International Airport.