London:
Europe is in the grip of a big freeze with heavy snowfall and Arctic temperatures causing major road, rail and air disruption that has left hundreds stranded.
The cold weather continued its grip on the UK and continental Europe on Wednesday.
In Poland many areas were covered in snow, causing traffic snarl ups and delays for commuters. Polish police said eight men died Tuesday night after a bitter cold front roared in.
A police spokesman said the men, from different parts of the country, had been drinking.
In Bialystok, public transport was facing another day of disruptions with temperatures reaching a record minus 22 degrees Celsius (minus 7.6 Fahrenheit).
Ania, a stranded passenger, said buses were running randomly.
Elsewhere, the snow accumulations made air travel impossible.
Edinburgh Airport in Scotland was reported closed until at least Thursday morning.
Snow ploughs and special snow removal equipment were seen at the Scottish city's airport clearing snow, but with more snow falling, planes were still grounded.
Motorways and villages in many parts of England showed significant accumulations of snow, with thousands of schools and business closed as a result of the extreme weather.
But, while cold weather may have a grip on continental Europe, Greeks are experiencing record heat.
Anastasia Papakrivou, head of the National Meteorological Service's forecasting department, said air masses from the south are responsible for temperatures that are unseasonably high.
"The temperatures are relatively high for the season. We have broken a decade-old record in our area. Specifically the other day in the city of Athens we had 25 degrees when the average temperatures are 17 to 18 degrees" she explained.
Some Greeks and visitors hit the beach Wednesday under hazy skies, the result of African sand being blown in.
The cold weather continued its grip on the UK and continental Europe on Wednesday.
In Poland many areas were covered in snow, causing traffic snarl ups and delays for commuters. Polish police said eight men died Tuesday night after a bitter cold front roared in.
A police spokesman said the men, from different parts of the country, had been drinking.
In Bialystok, public transport was facing another day of disruptions with temperatures reaching a record minus 22 degrees Celsius (minus 7.6 Fahrenheit).
Ania, a stranded passenger, said buses were running randomly.
Elsewhere, the snow accumulations made air travel impossible.
Edinburgh Airport in Scotland was reported closed until at least Thursday morning.
Snow ploughs and special snow removal equipment were seen at the Scottish city's airport clearing snow, but with more snow falling, planes were still grounded.
Motorways and villages in many parts of England showed significant accumulations of snow, with thousands of schools and business closed as a result of the extreme weather.
But, while cold weather may have a grip on continental Europe, Greeks are experiencing record heat.
Anastasia Papakrivou, head of the National Meteorological Service's forecasting department, said air masses from the south are responsible for temperatures that are unseasonably high.
"The temperatures are relatively high for the season. We have broken a decade-old record in our area. Specifically the other day in the city of Athens we had 25 degrees when the average temperatures are 17 to 18 degrees" she explained.
Some Greeks and visitors hit the beach Wednesday under hazy skies, the result of African sand being blown in.
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