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Trains were at a standstill, schools shut and roads treacherous in shivering Kent on Monday after up to 25cm of snow (10 inches) fell in parts of the county.

It was one of the worst affected areas of the country and, according to the Met Office, the heaviest snowfall since 1991.

Gritters were out in force across the county. Peter Lott, who helped to organise the operation for Kent County Council said an "emergency situation" was declared on Monday morning.

Police advised motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary, but many drivers did brave the elements to get to work.

Rail commuters had no chance. Southeastern suspended all services to London.

After heavy snowfalls in east Kent on Sunday it was north Kent that was hit overnight on Monday. About 50 schools in the Medway Towns and approximately 20 elsewhere were closed and many roads affected after a blizzard swept across north-west Kent and south-east London and into Surrey and Sussex.

The arctic weather shut down an entire shopping centre. Ashford Designer Outlet closed at 2pm as snowfall persisted.

A spokesman for the centre said: "We decided to do this in the interests of customer and staff health and safety but we hope to reopen as normal on Tuesday."

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Around the county

• More from the Dartford area at dartfordmessenger.co.uk >>>

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• More from Ashford and surrounding areas at kentishexpress.co.uk>>>PLUS big cats make the most of snowy weather >>>

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Accidents blocked the M25 at Leatherhead and at times traffic was queuing all the way back to the Kent border near Sevenoaks.

Although trains weren’t running to London, Southeastern was running a very limited service in and around coastal Kent where conditions were not so serious. Trains were stopping at stations including Faversham, Ramsgate and Dover Priory.

Southeastern, Network Rail and the Met Office were holding hourly reviews on the situation. Passengers were being urged to call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 before setting out.

Mobile breast screening units were also affected - with all Monday's appointments cancelled at Bluewater and Strood.

The NHS hoped to resume the service on Tuesday. Everyone who had appointments disrupted will be contacted to reschedule.

Canterbury Crown Court closed part way through Monday due to the bad weather and will not be sitting on Tuesday either.

Driving conditions on roads and motorways remained hazardous in some areas, with reports of lanes on the M20 near Brands Hatch blocked by snow during the morning rush hour. The A20 at Wrotham Hill was also reported as being hazardous.

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~ Listen: Southeastern's Sarah Boundy explains the situation to kmfm >>>

~ Listen: The Met Office's Helen Chivers talks to kmfm about the weather conditions >>>

~ Listen: Peter Lott tells kmfm about the gritting operation >>>

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The A226 at East Hill, Dartford, was closed both ways near the Brandon Road junction because of an accident.

And as the weather worsened, several retailers, including major department stores Debenhams and M&S, were expected to shut up shop early in Gravesend town centre.

Debenhams and Marks & Spencer were both expected to close mid afternoon.

Darent Valley Hospital's patient ambulance service, which ferries qualifying people to the Dartford hospital for appointments, was not operating on Monday. The service will be monitored over the next few days but resumed as soon as the weather conditions improve.

Weather experts were predicting “persistent and heavier” snow falls in Kent on Monday, possibly turning to sleet in eastern parts of the county later. Temperatures were unlikely to creep much above freezing all day.