Ice warnings are in place for much of Britain as the freezing cold weather conditions and snow continues to cause disruption to communities and commuters.
Power has been restored to all 1,700 homes in Cumbria – but several thousands are still without electricity in other parts and many roads are still impassable and remain closed because of the snow.
Huge snowdrifts and abandoned vehicles are preventing energy companies from reaching some areas to restore power.
Helicopters are being used to get engineers to affected properties in rural and exposed part of Northern Ireland.
Drivers in snow-hit areas across the UK have been urged to postpone their journeys if possible, and the railways have also been severely affected with services delayed or cancelled.
Businesses have also suffered, while farmers – yet to recover from the disastrously sodden summer of 2012 – have said the Arctic weather has come at the worst possible time.
Blizzard conditions are claiming the lives of newborn lambs, affecting spring crops and forcing families to work all hours to try to keep stranded stock alive, according to the National Union of Farmers (NFU).
And the severe weather and bitterly cold temperatures are set to continue across most parts of the country right up until the weekend, forecasters have said.
This could mean the first white Easter in five years, as the nation enters British summertime.
The Met Office has said there is a 90% chance the unseasonal cold snap will continue to keep large parts of Britain frozen for the rest of the week.
Bitterly cold easterly winds will persist in the days to come, bringing snow showers to northeast England and light snow flurries across other parts.
