Millions of people face a stressful Christmas Eve getaway as more ice, snow and freezing temperatures cause another day of travel havoc.

Minor roads in Oxfordshire were affected by ice today with delays reported around Chipping Norton and Enstone.

Those travelling in northern Britain face the worst disruption after heavy snow falls and temperatures that have plunged well below zero overnight.

But people across the country were being urged to plan more time for their journeys, with forecasts of widespread icy roads and more delays at airports on what is one of the year's busiest travel days.

Temperatures fell as low as minus 15C (5F) in the highlands of Scotland and minus 11C (12F) in Edinburgh on Wednesday night, with many parts of the country set to suffer more snow and below-freezing daytime temperatures.

Across southern England - which has been shivering in temperatures as low as minus 10C (14F) over recent days - it was comparatively warmer, with the mercury ranging from freezing (32F) to 3C (37F).

The Met Office has again issued severe weather warnings of "widespread icy roads" for virtually all of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Officials at the Highways Agency, which is responsible for gritting motorways and major trunk roads in England, said they were monitoring conditions, with continuous salt treatment on high-risk routes.

John Hutchinson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "The coldest areas will be from Cumbria northwards.

"There's a line of snow lying east to west through northern England that's gradually moving north. In central and southern England there are showers about - with some pretty heavy bursts."

Tens of thousands of air passengers face more frustrating disruption at a series of airports. Liverpool Airport reopened after a deluge of snow forced it to close briefly, with travellers warned to expect delays.

Disruption is also expected at Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick airports - where staff have all had to clear snow and ice from runways.