Bewsbury Crescent, in
Whitfield near Dover, in the early-morning snow

Kent rail commuters are bracing themselves for long journeys
home during rush-hour with snow causing severe delays on
trains.

Southeastern services have been disrupted since a blanket
of the white stuff covered much of the county early this
morning.

Some trains have been cancelled and others delayed by up to an
hour.

The disruption to Southeastern services is expected until at
least 4pm, but the knock-on could be felt by commuters into the
evening.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson was among those stuck at Dartford
station this morning.

He said: "Southeastern trains need to get a grip on their winter

services.

"Just a week ago they briefed local MPs on how well prepared
they were for any snow.

"I stood on a platform in my constituency waiting for a very
delayed train this morning with no information being given to
passengers, yet there was just a dusting of snow."

Snow falls in Higham and
(below) Gravesend this morning

Replacement buses were running from Ashford International,
Maidstone East, Ramsgate, Dover Priory, Maidstone West and Strood
stations.

Earlier, treacherous road conditions caused a 10-vehicle
pile-up in the snow.

The crash closed the London-bound A299 near Thanet Way. It
re-opened at about 9.30am, with one badly-damaged car awaiting
recovery.

No one was injured, but crews were called to re-grit the
Thanet Way and there were heavy delays on the Clapham
Hill roundabout.

Drivers were urged to take extra care and leave more time for
journeys with temperatures not expected to get much above freezing
all day.

Snow in Walderslade
Woods. Picture by Lauren Wright

In Medway, traffic came to a standstill on the London-bound
carriageway on the M2/A2 at Cuxton as the white stuff started to
fall at about 7.45am.

Average speed limits on the M2 near Strood dropped to about 20
mph.

Traffic was also moving slowly between Strood and Gravesend
because of the snow fall.

Motorists on the A226 were forced to go extra slow and
a number of cars lost control.

The big freeze is expected to turn to a deep freeze overnight
and temperatures plummet to below freezing.

However, Kent County Council and Medway Council said there have
been no school closures reported.

A winter wonderland
in Strood (picture @Kentweather) and, below, Kent's St Lawrence
cricket ground at Canterbury (picture @kentcricket)

Forecasters have put out weather warnings for ice and snow
across the country.

Sheppey's own snow "oracle" says today's fall is just the start
- with even more of the white stuff due next week.

Darren Prescott, who measures the weather from his home in Bay
View, reckons there is about a 70% chance of seeing a large amount
of snow by next Friday.

Llamas in the snow at
Blue Bell Hill

He also predicts the cold snap will continue - with a 90% chance
that highs next week will be lower than 5C.

Mr Prescott, who works as an IT technician at Sittingbourne's
Westlands School, said: "Once the high pressure draws cold
easterly winds which have set in, it's only a matter of time before
snow arrives."