HAMPSHIRE slowly thawed out yesterday after a freak blizzard hit the county, causing schools to close and flights to be grounded.

The big freeze, which caused temperatures to dip to -3C overnight, meant treacherous conditions for drivers making their way to and from work.

The worst of the weather, including thunder and lightning, hit as people were leaving work on Wednesday evening.

Hampshire police reported a total of 20 minor road accidents likely to be caused by black ice while the county council's highways department worked around the clock to ensure all the main routes were gritted.

Passengers expecting to fly out of Southampton Airport were turned away after flights were grounded for 18 hours and all arrivals cancelled.

Travellers finally managed to get away at midday yesterday after the airfield's operations department worked through the night to clear the runway of ice.

Eastleigh Council's refuse collection service was cancelled because of "treacherous" conditions.

A council spokesman said that, weather permitting, today's rounds would take place as normal.

Most Hampshire schools did manage to stay open despite snowdrifts on the higher ground in the county, but the weather proved too much for five schools.

All Saints Primary School in Winchester was closed, as was Netley Court Special School in Netley Abbey, Barton Stacey Primary, Ropley Primary and Southampton's Cedar, Ridgeway House and Holy Family schools.

Angela Dale, head teacher of the Holy Family School, said: "I got to school and found I couldn't get into one of the buildings because the locks had frozen.

"We had about ten children come here and we were outside turning a lot of cars away but a lot of people had got the message."

The blizzard was not enough to put Southampton pensioners off a trip to the theatre, however - especially when someone else was paying.

More than 200 elderly residents were treated to a night out to watch The Pirates of Penzance by Southampton Operatic Society at the Nuffield Theatre, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Southampton.

Mike Beed, community service member at the club, said the trip was a great success: "I was so pleased with the expressions of gratitude on their faces. They obviously enjoyed themselves without exception."