The Met Office has hailed it as the 'storm of the century' due to its sheer size, with warnings covering huge swathes of the UK.

More than 300 schools were shut for safety reasons today with forecasters warning up to four inches could fall over parts of northern England, Scotland Northern Ireland this week.

Large parts of Shropshire are already underwater, with many access roads closed, and things could get worse with the river due to peak tonight amid further heavy rain in the Welsh mountains.

Met Office forecasters are warning of up to four inches of snow from the Shetland Islands down to Nottingham and across to Northern Ireland this evening. Pictured: Derbyshire snow today.

Londoners bemoaned the 'pathetic' flakes that fell for just a few minutes this morning before joking that the city would still fall to its knees regardless - paralysed by the smallest bit of bad weather.

Met Office forecasters warned of up to four inches of snow from the Shetland Islands down to Nottingham and across to Northern Ireland overnight.

The atrocious weather shows little signs of abating, with Brits suffering a fifth consecutive wet weekend. Some areas will three to four inches of rain in heavy downpours and winds up to 50mph.

Snow is expected to hit parts of the UK while temperatures plummet to -8C in mini 'Beast from the East' set to batter lockdown Britain until next week (pictured, snow settling in Co Durham).

Temperatures are set to rocket across the UK on Sunday and could hit up to 68F, but Britons will have to sunbathe from their back garden as the nation remains on lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis.

Forces across the country will be deployed to beauty spots, parks and roads amid mounting fears the public will leave their homes to soak up the sun. Pictured: A surfer in Tyne and Wear.

Temperatures are expected to be warmer than Ibiza in Britain today, with highs of 77F (25C) forecast in the south compared to 64F (18C) in the Spanish holiday hotspot.

The country's worst-hit areas, most likely England's midlands and Wales, are facing up to 30mm of rain in the next 24 hours.

The Met Office said the 'unsettled' theme will likely last into the beginning of May, becoming more 'settled' into the second week, May 11 onward, with 'mixed' conditions until the end of the month.

Brits will experience a mixed few days of weather this weekend, before the mercury will rise early next week, with sunny spells back on the horizon.

The Met Office forecast temperatures to hit up to 77F (25C) on Friday, with London possibly seeing 79F (26C) on Saturday, as a plume of hot air from the southern Mediterranean wafts across the UK.

I'm in Paris for the fashion shows. This isn't a sentence I thought I would ever write again, but two or three designers invited me.

I wasn't sure what to write this week. We're all thinking about the spread of a global pandemic, so I see my role as offering some light relief from that

Try the latest statement tiles, rugs and parquet

When two heartbreaking miscarriages left Anna Buxton unable to conceive, she remained determined to have the family she dreamed of - whatever it took

That's been the reality for many bereaved parents - until now, thanks to one mother's tireless campaign - and the introduction of Jack's Law

Forget the 60s-style bungalow. Interior designer and TV presenter Sophie Robinson's annexe for her mum Claire is light, bright and totally modern   

This remarkable treasure trove of letters gives a unique insight into home-front life and romance

This is a real party piece of a dish - it looks great at the table and packs so much flavour for minimal prep and effort

If lockdown has you longing for flourishing flowers or a kitchen garden, award-winning Royal Horticultural Society judge Jo Thompson is here to show you how

She's the straight-talking mum of four whose super-honest advice has earned her millions of fans and turned her into the beauty guru we can all trust and relate to

After decades of letdowns and disappointments, this writer - who wants to remain anonymous - resolved never to see her father again. Then the pandemic struck...

Russell Brand may have a reputation for his playboy past - but these days he's happier road-testing kiddie crafts for wife Laura's new venture.

Sofia Richie shared a very sultry photo of herself onboard a plane on Monday. The beauty appeared to be heading on a snow adventure ahead of New Year's Eve.

President Trump hosted Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman in the Oval Office Monday - and didn't tell the press about it.

PETE JENSON: The Spanish Super Cup was always the least important trophy in Spain's football calendar. Making it four teams and taking it to Saudi Arabia has only lessened its appeal.

Barcelona have suffered a major blow as striker Luis Suarez is set for six weeks on the sidelines, as the club have confirmed he is to undergo knee surgery.

Jeff Bezos's cell phone was hacked in May 2018 after he was sent a malicious video filed from the personal phone number of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it is claimed.

'Total nonsense - this story was out almost a year ago, it was debunked, we rejected it completely,' minister of foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in Davos on Thursday.

Jared Kushner, 39, (pictured with Trump) could also have been hacked by the Saudi Crown Prince like Bezos (inset with the prince), investigators say.

It is a huge blow for the UK's biggest defence company, BAE Systems, as the deal was expected to help save thousands of jobs in the north of England.

Sources close to Mike Ashley have suggested he does not have the appetite for another takeover saga played out in public, much like Staveley's previous attempt to buy the club in 2017.

The proposed Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of Newcastle United could be blocked by the Premier League amid allegations that their government are facilitating theft of television rights. 

Princess Jalila (pictured with mother Princess Haya) was allegedly being lined up by her father Sheikh Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, for a arranged marriage to Bin Salman in February 2019.

The Duke of York's new PR expert Mark Gallagher helped to massage Saudi Arabia's image following global outrage over air strikes that killed thousands of Yemeni civilians.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than half a million people worldwide, with more than 28,000 deaths recorded.

Saudi Arabia, which has recorded 1,885 infections and 21 deaths, imposed a 24-hour curfew today in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina, an extension of measures to combat coronavirus.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN AND CRAIG HOPE: Sources have disclosed that all the necessary paperwork has been lodged, and that the potential deal now awaits their approval.

A deal worth £300million from Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben Brothers to take control of the club from current owner Mike Ashley is close to being finalised.

HELEN CAHILL - CITY CORRESPONDENT: Saudi fund boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan is in the final stages of taking over as chairman of Newcastle United, sources told Sportsmail.

The prospective new owners - a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - are on the cusp of tying up a £300m that would rocket the club to the top of the financial charts.

EXCLUSIVE BY MARTIN SAMUEL: The deposit paid by the Saudi Arabian consortium is non-refundable, meaning Newcastle owner Ashley gets richer even if the takeover is not ratified.

It is the news Newcastle fans have been dreaming about for years - a big-money takeover and the possible departure of Mike Ashley. But how does a deal actually happen? Our expert reveals all.

The £300m deal is awaiting the League's approval but that process is understood to have been held up given the complexity of broadcast piracy allegations against the Saudi state.

Kate Lister, author of A History of Sex, makes plain people have always wanted to turn sex 'into a moral issue', with complex social structures and taboos.

Journalist Alice Vincent has written about finding peace in her plants after a breakup. Rootbound: Rewilding A Life described how her long-term boyfriend broke up with her over breakfast.