Winter winds bring blizzards warning

The big chill, predicted for weeks, is expected to arrive with a vengeance today. Blankets of freezing fog in many parts of the country are likely to be replaced by blizzards driven by Arctic winds.

Forecasters warn of widespread disruption over the next four days on main transport routes and possibly shortages of power in many areas. Fears have been expressed that Britain could run short of gas, forcing some industry on to a three-day week and driving home heating bills higher.

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• Blair feels the heat: PM accused of being 'in denial' over gas crisis

In the Commons, Tony Blair was forced on the defensive after the Conservatives accused the Government of "losing its grip" over energy supplies. The Tory leader, Michael Howard, said failure to guarantee supplies showed the Government was "on its skids".

The manufacturing body the EEF claimed the Prime Minister was "in denial" over the threat to gas supplies and accused him of "complacency" over soaring energy prices.

Although the spot price of wholesale gas eased slightly after the Energy minister, Malcolm Wicks, insisted the UK was "awash" with gas, it is still double the price in some parts of the Continent. The consultancy uSwitch predicted that a severe winter would add a total of £600m to household fuel bills and it warned domestic consumers to be ready for a further 15 per cent increase in energy prices in the new year.

Snow storms were forecast to sweep across the north of Scotland and the east coast in the early hours of today, with snowfalls up to five inches deep across the rest of Scotland by mid-afternoon, extending to Northern Ireland and the north of England. Forecasters said they expected some parts of southern England to be affected overnight and tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to drop to 5C today and tomorrow, and minus 3C during the night, but the winds will make it seem colder, possibly as low as minus 12C. The Highways Agency, responsible for England's motorways and A roads, said its fleet of gritters and snowblowers was on stand by.

The forecast has provoked a flurry of gambling, with the bookmaker William Hill reporting its busiest 24 hours of betting on a white Christmas. More than £6,000 was staked, including one bet of £1,600 on snow in Aberdeen at 4/1. The bookmaker has slashed the odds for Big Ben failing to chime because of freezing conditions from 100/1 to 25/1 and also cut the odds for a new cold temperature record in England from 18/1 to 16/1. It is also offering 100/1 on the Thames freezing between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.

A spokesman, Rupert Adams, said: "The forecast for December seems to be going from bad to worse, which has stimulated unprecedented interest in our weather-related betting. It would be fair to say that we are no longer dreaming of a white Christmas!"