Commuters faced a nightmare return to work today after two inches of snow led to collisions, the closure of a motorway sliproad and tailbacks at blackspots across the region.

And experts warned the worst is yet to come as the coldest weather for more than 20 years is expected tonight with temperatures due to plummet to as low as -9C (16F)

See also: Snow hits the Midlands.

See also: Winter wonderland – your pictures.

One driver was a victim of the weather this morning when his car ploughed into a wall in Brierley Hill after sliding on ice – narrowly missing a gritting bin which had been emptied by thieves. The accident happened in Bull Street around 7.20am when the Renault estate ended up embedded in a factory wall. The male driver and female passenger were not believed to be seriously injured.

Firefighters faced dozens of call-outs as the severe weather caused frozen pipes to burst and planes at Birmingham International Airport could not land or take off because of snow on the runway. Many schools were closed because of heating problems. Commuters were stuck in queues after an accident near the Hawthorns in West Bromwich which led highways chiefs to close the northbound slipway at Junction 1 of the M5.

A collision between a car and a lorry on icy Halfords Lane at around 9am caused tailbacks on the nearby A41 Birmingham Road.

Worst hit by the snow were Wolverhampton and Cannock with two inches of snow falling overnight and weather experts have issued a black ice warning.

Express & Star weatherman John Warner said: “The severe frost will see temperatures fall to an average 18F (minus 8C) across the West Midlands and 16F (minus 9C) in some spots, the lowest this winter.”

This afternoon’s meeting at Wolverhampton racecourse was callled off due to the weather.