Updated 4.25pm - Flights to Malta, from Stansted, Luton and Frankfurt were cancelled on Sunday as heavy snowfall brought disruption to roads, rails and skies in the UK and parts of Europe.

Flights from Birmingham and Amsterdam were also delayed for hours, causing misery for weekend travellers.

Severe weather swept across North Wales and central England, with up to 28cm of snow already recorded in parts of the country.

 Flights were temporarily suspended at two UK airports - Birmingham and Luton - due to bad weather, causing widespread delays for passengers. Other airports reported delays.

Ryanair cancelled its flights to Malta from Luton and Stansted while a flight from Birmingham suffered a delay of seven hours.

Several delays caused by bad weather were also reported in parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands and Germany.

AirMalta/Lufthansa were forced to cancel a flight from Frankfurt due to arrive at 4.30pm  while an Air Malta light from Amsterdam was some four hours late.

A flight from Heathrow was an hour late.

In the UK, major roads were also crippled by the weather, with the M1 briefly closed near Leicestershire and the A5 in Shropshire also forced to shut down.

In the West Midlands, an NHS trust was forced to put an appeal out for 4x4 drivers to help stranded nurses get to hospitals.

Heart of England trust, which represents hospitals in Birmingham and Solihull, asked on Twitter: "Do you have a 4x4 and can volunteer to help our nurses get into our hospitals at good hope 424 7564 or heartlands 424 0483 pls give us a call. Thanks"

Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield serves northern Birmingham, while Heartlands hospital is based in Bordesley Green, in the east of the city.

The trust earlier said online: "Trained nurses needed at goodhope hospital due to heavy snow. If can get in pls call site office 424 7564."

Londoners also unexpectedly woke up to snowfall, as forecasters initially predicted the capital and southern England and Wales would instead be lashed by strong winds and rain.

Rail routes into London were disrupted by the snow, including Great Northern, London Overground, Thameslink, Virgin Trains East Coast and Transport for London Rail services.

In the Midlands, rail passengers were advised by National Rail "not to travel this Sunday", as disruption hit Cross Country, London Northwestern Trains, Virgin Trains and West Midlands Railways services.

The Met Office issued an updated amber warning lasting from just after 8am to 6pm on Sunday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands and areas of northern and eastern England.

The heaviest snowfall was found in Sennybridge, south Wales, where 28cm of snow was recorded, the forecaster said.

The amber alert is accompanied by a yellow warning of wind for parts of eastern England, London and the South East, the South West and Wales that could bring "short-term loss of power and other services" as well as transport disruption.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keate said: "The worst of the snow is currently across parts of Wales and the west and southern Midlands, while there is some snow falling over the home counties as well.

"Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys have seen a few centimetres in a couple of hours.

"Steady snow is expected as this weather system moves over the next few hours into the afternoon roughly from mid-Wales to the north of London.

"There's going to be a split from the M4 corridor south, where it will mostly be rain, although the winds are really picking up there as well with gusts up to 60mph in some places in the south.

"North of the Humber should get away with it today, although there may be showers in the far north of Scotland.

Luton Airport shut down its runway for around an hour on Sunday morning, temporarily suspending all flights just after 10am.

It reopened the strip for departures only at 11.30am, writing online: "For the latest status of your flight please check with your airline.

"Passengers are advised to leave additional time for your journey to the airport. We apologise for any inconvenience."

Flights were also grounded in Birmingham Airport while the runway was cleared.

Highways England advised motorists to avoid the roads in affected areas, urging them to ensure they pack first aid kits, shovels, food, drink, warm clothing and blankets before setting out. 

Motorists have been stranded because of heavy snowfall on the M40 motorway, the A34 in Oxfordshire and the A5 in Milton Keynes, according to Thames Valley Police.

A force spokesman said that ploughs were working to reach the vehicles. He said: "Following heavy snowfall across the Thames Valley overnight, members of the public are being advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

"A number of motorists are currently stranded in their vehicles on the M40 motorway, the A34 in Oxfordshire and on the A5 in Milton Keynes.

"Officers are working closely with partner agencies to arrange for roads to be ploughed to allow those stranded to be reached by emergency services.

"Many more roads are blocked and have been affected by snow."

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, of the joint operations unit for roads policing, said: "The message to motorists is do not travel today unless it is absolutely unavoidable.

"Do not put your life and the lives of others at risk.

"Many of the roads in the Thames Valley have been blocked and, as temperatures plummet, will become extremely icy and dangerous.

"Keep up to date with the weather forecasts and advice over the next few days and ensure you can safely complete journeys and, when it is safe to drive, ensure you drive in accordance with the road conditions."