Snow hits South Essex after Met Office warned of bad weather coming to our towns.

Temperatures have plunged to below three degrees across Basildon, Southend and Canvey today.

The Met Office warned that rural communities in Essex could be cut off as roads become hazardous, with up to 20cm (8in) of snow expected in some places today.

Other parts includes Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

Large parts of the UK are also bracing the snow, including the central swathe of England and Wales and parts of Scotland.

So far there has been no reports of train cancellations from Greater Anglia and c2c rail services due to weather. 

Despite the stern weather warning residents across South Essex are enjoying their day of snow, with many hoping it will be a white Christmas.