Today is officially the first day of spring - but it will bring little respite to freezing Britain as snow continues to fall, closing schools and causing chaos on the roads.

The country is on track to suffer its coldest March in more than 50 years as conservationists warned that the prolonged winter weather was damaging wildlife.

The unrelenting cold weather is showing no signs of slowing this week as snow continues to fall across the North.

Spring? A paperboy cycling through snow in Harrogate, Yorkshire today on the vernal equinox

Breaking through: Crocuses battling against the snow as the spring officially arrives

Emergency: Workers battle to clear the snow at a caravan park in Edmundbyers, County Durham

Clearing the way: Tractors working to clear a blocked road at Stanhope in County Durham

Today is the vernal equinox, traditionally regarded as the end of winter and the day that spring arrives, but the news could come as a surprise to Britons affected by the snow and cold.

More light snow will settle throughout the day in the north-east of England and eastern Scotland, adding to large amounts of up to 10cm which hit the regions yesterday

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