Craig Lewis
BBC East

Around 150 homeless people enjoyed breakfast at Northampton Home Centre this morning.

The day centre, which is open for 21 hours a day during the cold snap, took in 34 rough sleepers last night.

Chief executive Robin Burgess says those people "are in a very poor condition indeed".

"They are very, very cold. They are very wet," he said.

"The wind chill has really got to people, but they are also just worn out, exhausted by trying to find somewhere to shelter."

BBC Essex

As many in Essex are cursing the Beast from the East for closing schools, roads and causing widespread disruption, here's one place that is celebrating the white stuff.

There are a number of road closures in Norfolk because of the snow, according to police.

There has been a single vehicle collision on Bell Road at Barnham Broom.

The B1354 at Briston Road is closed due to a van being stuck in the snow.

Reepham Road in Norwich is closed due to snow drifts and the A140 is closed from Dickleburgh to Long Stratton.

Police say "only travel if absolutely necessary".

Craig Lewis
BBC East

Northamptonshire has been suffering from "three to six foot of snow drifting on the carriageway" this morning, according to the head of operations at Northamptonshire Highways.

Image source, Northamptonshire County Council

Ian Jolly said at one point 3ft of snow was recorded as having fallen in 30 minutes.

"I can assure everybody the 26 gritters have been our for the last 24 hours snow ploughing and gritting the carriageways," Mr Jolly said.

"It's a huge network and we are getting round as best we can."

If you fancied hopping down to Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire today, sadly you won't be able to get in.

The snow has caused it to close.

A couple from Shotley Gate, Suffolk, want to thank a stranger who helped them get their newborn baby home when their car got stuck in the snow.

Image source, Contributed by family

Elsie was born on Tuesday at Ipswich Hospital to parents Kirby Pridmore and Ollie Bartram.

Kirby said: "We'd heard the road had been snow-ploughed before we left the hospital yesterday afternoon."

However, their car ran into drifting snow between Chelmondiston and home.

Ollie said: "The car just wasn't having any of it and got completely stuck.

"A bloke coming the other way asked if we needed a hand.

"We said we've got a newborn and he said 'don't worry, mate - I've got you'.

"He hooked us up and pulled us five miles all the way to the house."

Ever seen a dog smile?

Hindsight is a great thing, says Pete Aspley, whose company Cambridge Water has seen a five-fold increase in calls from customers with frozen or burst pipes since the cold snap hit earlier this week.

The best defence is taking precautions in the first place, by lagging your pipes in advance - pipes can be protected using ready-moulded lengths of insulation foam (known as lagging, external), taped together to close gaps - but if you've got a problem, that's not going to help you.

Anglian Water says across its region it's also seen an increase in calls and has the following advice if your pipes are frozen, external:

• You can use a hairdryer to slowly defrost the pipe - but take it easy or you might crack the pipe
• If your pipes are in the loft or cupboard, leave the doors or hatch open to let air circulate

There are other measures you can take to prevent freezing, including keeping your heating on low through the day, or running taps at regular intervals to keep the water moving through them.

Norfolk County Council says strong winds are not helping attempts to clear roads.

Road conditions across the Aylesbury area are very poor and many routes are not passable, according to the Thames Valley Police Specials Twitter feed, external.

Officers from Aylesbury are now working with Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue to get to a number of crashes.

Conditions will be poor all day, police say.

Image source, TVP Specials

A number of depatures and arrivals at London Luton Airport, external have been cancelled or delayed today because of the weather.

The airport says "we advise all passengers to contact their airline for the status of their flight".

Image source, London Luton Airport

An appeal has gone out by the South Central Ambulance Service, external, which covers Buckinghamshire, asking for people who have 4x4s to help get staff to and from work today.

Help is needed "throughout today".

It's not the day to see snow leopards (if there are any) at Woburn Safari Park, as it is going to be closed today.

Thanks to this "local hero" for clearing the drift at Kirby Bedon.

Only 4x4 vehicles are able to make it out of Rockland, Surlingham and Bramerton so far it seems.

The number of schools closed in Suffolk has topped the 300 mark today.

Pretty much all the county's state secondary schools are closed, with the exceptions being those in Ipswich and Ormiston Denes Academy in Lowestoft, although East Point Academy and Benjamin Britten in the town are both closed.

Those in Ipswich tend to be opening after 10:00 - check the county council's school closures website, external for full details.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The road out of Barnham Broom, Norfolk, this morning:

The train operator Greater Anglia says there are currently no services running on the following routes:

• Norwich to Sheringham
• Norwich to Great Yarmouth
• Norwich to Lowestoft
• Ipswich to Lowestoft

It seems like a snow day is being enjoyed by students of all ages in Northamptonshire today.

As well as hundreds of schools being closed, external, the University of Northampton has suspended teaching today.

Martin Barber
BBC News

Sheringham was looking rather swell last night...