Winter comes early as snow sweeps in

Winter returned to the West Midlands with a vengeance as snow swept across the region - only the second time in 44 years it has fallen in October. This is Quinn Corrigan, aged 18 months, from Coseley. See also:

A thin white blanket covered many parts of the Black Country and Staffordshire yesterday as temperatures plummeted below freezing. Picture by Paul Whetton from Wednesfield.nextpageThe first flakes began to fall just after 3pm yesterday afternoon, and within an hour cars, gardens and pavements were covered. Phil Beckett, of Bilston, took this photo.See also: Send us your snow photosnextpage

Forecasters said today it was "extremely rare" for a cold snap to strike as early as October. Dave Hall, 30, of Hatherton Street, Walsall, sent in this photo. See also: Send us your snow photosnextpageTemperatures dropped to 2C (36F) as the snow gripped the region, with temperatures overnight falling to -3C (27F). Young Callum Corrigan, aged 6, made the best of the snow fall in his back garden.nextpageAndrew Smith, 14, took this photo in Finchfield, Wolverhampton. The weather forced Walsall FC's match against Swindon Town to be cancelled after a referee decided going ahead would risk player safety. See also: Send us your snow photosnextpageThe cold snap set in just before rush hour, and many roads were hit with jams as drivers battled through poor visibility. Ben Sprigg, 21, took this photo in Rowley Regis. See also: Send us your snow photos

nextpagePaul Whetton from Wednesfield snapped a winter wonderland in his back garden.nextpagePhil Beckett, of Bilston, snapped commuters battling their way through the heavy snowfall in Broad Street, Bilston.

nextpageKerry Bunn, aged 33, of Wordsworth Avenue, Parkfields, took a picture in her back garden with a date to prove it actually snowed in October.nextpageTrevor Oliver, aged 40, of Wolverhampton, captured a shot out of his bedroom window as the snow began to fall in the garden. See also: Send us your snow photos