More than 200 people were rescued from trapped cars today after blizzard conditions battered the West Country.

In the latest snowstorms to hit the UK, scores of drivers were stranded in parts of Devon overnight after as much as 1ft of snow fell and caused transport chaos. The rescue operation – which involved the Police, Army and civilian teams - came as forecasters warned the south of the country faced a fifth consecutive day of major disruption from the weather.

Snow headed south overnight with flurries in London, Hampshire, Berkshire and southern Oxfordshire but the South West looked like the worst hit.

Around 200 vehicles were stranded on the A38 and A380 south of Exeter, with dozens of others stuck on the A386 near Tavistock.

Police and Army teams used 4x4s to reach trapped passengers, with other drivers choosing to make their own way through drifts to safety.

More than 200 people were recovering in shelters set up near Exeter and in Okehampton as the emergency services worked to recover cars and clear the roads.

Dangerous driving conditions were reported across the region, including the M5 and M4 in Wiltshire and Berkshire, as well as Bristol.

This week’s winter weather has already forced the closure of thousands of schools across the country and left travellers reeling from airport hold-ups and train and bus service delays.

With temperatures dropping as low as minus 8C (17.6F), councils are also perilously close to running out of salt and grit with some forced to ration its use.

Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said eight councils had to “prioritise” their remaining salt stocks in order to focus on the most important roads.

He added: “If that fails to deal with any issue, then councils will talk to the Highways Agency to look for further supplies.”

Some councils said they were now using salt only on major routes and Britain’s biggest salt supplier, Cheshire-based Salt Union, said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand.

Matt Dobson, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “The higher parts of east Cornwall and quite a bit of Devon could see the most snowfall, but it will extend up to Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Bristol and south Gloucestershire.”

He added that plunging temperatures tonight would make Britain’s roads even more dangerous by the weekend.

“Cold air coming down from the north could make for very icy conditions particularly on untreated services,” Mr Dobson said.

Yesterday snow settled thickest in south Wales, western England, the Midlands, counties to the north of London, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The death toll of the week’s wintry blast rose yesterday as it emerged two walkers died after venturing out in icy conditions in the Lake District.

A body believed to be that of a missing 60-year-old man was discovered in Great Langdale, in the Lake District, just 24 hours after another man in his 60s fell 300 feet to his death nearby.

In a repeat of Monday’s weather – which stopped millions getting to work - airports, railways and roads were hit hard.

Luton Airport cancelled 19 flights and planes were also unable to land and take off from Belfast City airport, Robin Hood International Airport, near Doncaster, and Aberdeen.

The runway at East Midlands Airport near Derby was briefly closed as staff worked to clear it, while Birmingham Airport remained open with temporary runway closures.

On the railways, passengers were warned they faced disrupted train services in several areas, including Wales, the Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire.

Bristol Airport said all flights had been suspended until 10.30am.

The airport said it was experiencing “severe disruption” due to the heavy snow.

Luton Airport also said all flights were being suspended until 8am while it dealt with a snowfall.