Weather in brief: White Witch hit by a spell of bad weather

Not even Narnia's White Witch could make her way through the blizzards that hit Basingstoke on Monday night. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe actress Caroline Corrie, bought a duvet and sheets, thinking she would have to sleep at the town's Haymarket Theatre. In the end she managed to stay in some digs used by theatre staff, along with the stage manager.

Woman in labour rescued in Berkshire

A team of police officers helped a woman from Emmer Green, Berkshire, give birth in the middle of a snow storm after she was told ambulances couldn't make it through the snow. Police rushed to collect 40-year-old Justine Wass in a 4x4 and took her to hospital just in time for the birth of baby Remy.

Murder defendant's hearing postponed

A court hearing involving a murder case had to be postponed until the new year because the defendant was unable to get there in the bad weather. Broadmoor patient Graham Fisher was due to appear at Lewes Crown Court charged with the murders of Clare Letchford and Beryl O'Connor in Hastings in 1998.

Carol service called off for first time

Heavy snow forced Manchester Cathedral to cancel last night's Nine Lessons and Carols service for the first time in its history. A spokesman said he hoped that the cathedral would reopen today and that Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve would be unaffected.