Please Santa!... be gentle...

Temperatures are plummeting across the UK with widespread ice and snow set to return, according to forecasters.

Up to 25cm (10in) of snow could fall in some areas by Saturday, and some airports, including London Heathrow, are already experiencing disruption.

The BBC's Tomasz Schafernaker said ice would make driving "very dangerous" by Thursday evening's rush hour.

Ministers say more heavy snow over Christmas could lead to "very serious" shortages of domestic heating oil.

Speaking in the Commons, Energy Minister Charles Hendry said higher demand, coupled with restricted deliveries and soaring oil prices, meant many homes were already having to wait up to four weeks for supplies.

"We are extremely aware that if there is further snow over Christmas, this situation could become very serious indeed," he said.

By Saturday, another band of heavy snow is forecast to move east across England and Wales, with 5-10cm (2-4in) likely and up to 25cm (10in) possible in some places. The snow will drift in strong winds.

'Snow teams'

Bad weather is already causing disruption to flights at Heathrow, Aberdeen and Kirkwall airports, and some schools have closed in Shetland, Orkney and Aberdeenshire.