UK weather latest updates: RAF mobilised to help hospitals and vulnerable people amid freezing conditions as gas shortage warning issued

The RAF have been assisting emergency services in Lincolnshire. They were deployed this morning to help medics get to hospitals through heavy snow. According to a Twitter post by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, the RAF teams have also been lending a hand to fire crews:

'It's not safe to be outside', warns Irish president

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made a direct plea for people to remain indoors until severe blizzard conditions have passed.

The whole has been put under the highest weather warning, a red alert, as the worst snow in 35 years sweeps north across the island.

Blizzards are expected to strike the south coast from 4pm on Thursday afternoon as polar conditions brought by the so-called Beast from he East weather system mix with 62mph gales from Storm Emma.

"The risk to life and limb presented by severe weather conditions should not be underestimated by anyone," Mr Varadkar said.

The forecast is for zero visibility, deep pockets of snow and "white-outs".

"It's not safe to be outside in such conditions. No-one should be on the roads," the Taoiseach said.

"We are asking everyone to be at home and safe by 4pm today and to remain indoors until the severe weather has passed. I'll repeat nobody should be on the roads after 4pm today and everyone should be in home or indoors by 4pm."

Here are some pictures of the heavy snow in Ireland, where authorities have urged people to remain indoors as almost the entire country is lashed by blizzards:

There have been 20 crashes within an hour on one small section of the A19 road in County Durham, according to police.

An 11-vehicle collision closed the southbound carriageway at Castle Eden, with a separate crash shutting it northbound north of Easington.

It was not thought anyone was seriously injured.

A photograph tweeted by traffic officers showed a jackknifed lorry with damaged vehicles and the emergency services attending.

Durham Police urged drivers not to underestimate the severity of the driving conditions and to avoid the roads unless essential.

Britain's cars have suffered more than £10 million of damage in just three days after the Beast from the East pounces on the UK's roads, an insurer has estimated.

Figures from the AA's car insurance claims team suggest that nationally the Siberian snow has led to more than 8,000 collisions - costing insurers more than £10.7 million.

The estimated bill is based on the average cost of repairing a damaged car being around £1,300.

On Wednesday, the number of insurance claims was more than a third higher than on a normal Wednesday for that time of year, the AA said. Two-thirds of claims related to mishaps in the snow and ice.

Michael Lloyd, the AA's director of insurance, said: "Claims are going up as you might expect during the extremely icy weather that the country is experiencing.

"Based on the AA's share of the car insurance market, we estimate that the total number of private cars involved in collisions is well over 8,200 and rising. That equates to around £10.7 million-worth of dented metal."

As temperatures reach chilling lows, the water pipes in your home are at greater risk of freezing and bursting.

Here’s a guide to the precautions that you can take to prevent frozen water pipes, what to do if they freeze, and what you should do if they burst: 

How to stop and fix frozen pipes

Employers are forcing staff to get to work despite official advice to avoid travelling in the severe weather, according to unions.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress said it has been inundated with complaints members who say they have been ordered to make their way to work despite authorities urging people to remain indoors.

It has launched a survey to gauge the extent of the issue in workplaces across Scotland, and to give some advice to workers on how they can collectively challenge the "clearly unfair" behaviour.

Dave Moxham, the STUC's deputy general secretary, said: "We have been shocked by the cold-hearted way in which many employers around the country have treated their workers over the past few days.

"It is not often that we see this level of risk to life due to weather. It has become clear to us that many employers have chosen to put their profits over the safety of their workforce.

"There is no excuse for not paying heed to weather warnings. Requiring staff to get to work in adverse conditions is exploitation. It is also exploitative to cancel shifts without pay."

The TUC called on employers not to force staff to make dangerous journeys to work.

General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "When the snow causes problems on the roads and trains it is common sense for bosses to let their staff work from home rather than struggle with a lengthy and potentially dangerous commute.

"No one should be made to put their health at risk to get to work or be punished by losing pay or holiday when they can't get in because of the weather.

"Many good employers now have 'bad weather' policies in place so staff know what to do. But bosses must also be aware of the difficulties faced by staff whose children's schools are closed due to the weather.

"Some may be able to take their children to work or work from home. But those who can't need support and understanding from their employers."

The Met Office's red warning for wind and snow is now in force in south-west England and south Wales. 

The alert, the most severe level possible, says spells heavy snow and blizzard conditions are expected until 2am tomorrow.

Ambulance struggles in snow

Volunteer mountain rescuers helped an ambulance in South Yorkshire get a baby to hospital after a couple's car got stuck.

"The ambulance was unable to reach the family's car which had become stranded in the snow high above Penistone, due to the bad road conditions," the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team - a volunteer service covering South Yorkshire, the Peak District and surrounding areas - said in a Facebook post.

"Fortunately, the team managed to locate the family and attend to the baby then transferred them via the team Land Rover to a clear road where a waiting ambulance was able to take them on to the hospital," the post added.

The team also posted an image on social media of a car on its side in Hartcliff near Penistone in South Yorkshire in heavy snow, adding: "Luckily no-one was inside, but it illustrates how bad conditions are."