Now the Army moves in to clear away snow in coldest December for 100 years as fuel runs out at petrol stations in Scotland and East Anglia

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• Overnight lows of -15C in Scotland and -13C in England
• Experts say cold snap is 'once in a lifetime'
• Slight thaw this weekend but a return to snow predicted for next week

The Army was called in today to help clear away ice and snow as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years.

As temperatures plunged to -15c (5f) David Cameron ordered the military to step in and help the UK's beleaguered local councils.

The Prime Minister also revealed Cobra-style emergency meetings of senior officials and Ministers had been held to discuss the Government’s response to the big freeze.

Edinburgh City Council was the first local authority to ask for help. Officials have held talks with the Ministry of Defence and theScottish government to allow soldiers to remove built up snow and icefrom roads and pavements.

Soldiers on the streets: Troops help to clear away ice and snow in Edinburgh today as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years

To the rescue: Members of the armed forces share a joke as they get to work in Edinburgh

The Scottish capital has seen the worst snowfall since 1963, leaving some of its most vulnerableresidents unable to leave their homes. Up to 30ins of snow has fallenin parts of the city.

Under the plans, soldiers will behelping residents from the hardest hit areas of Edinburgh, as well asthose who need to get access to medical help.

They will also help to clear special locations such as doctors’ surgeries, care homes and hospitals.

The mobilisation of the Army coincides with reports of fuel running out at petrol stations in Scotland and East Anglia.

In Scotland a third of the country's 900 forecourts were closed due to supply chain problems.

After a further 4in of snow fell yesterday the Met Office warned that – despite a brief respite this weekend – temperatures would stay ‘remarkably’ low for another fortnight.

If that happens, this month could replace 1981 as the coldest December since records began in 1910.

To do so, the average mean temperature for the month will have to be lower than 0.2c.

The coldest place in England overnight was Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, which saw a low of -12.8C.

As forecasters warned of more snow, sub-zero temperatures and ice for the Christmas period:

• The Prime Minister urged homeowners to embrace the ‘we’re all in it together’ strategy of the Conservatives Big Society by being good neighbours
• More than 100 motorists were rescued after being trapped as heavy snow fell on the A171 near Whitby, in North Yorkshire
• The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents in just 14 days.

Dicing with danger: Three teenagers walk across a frozen lake in Bournville, Birmingham

Christmas lamb: The freezing conditions didn't stop the birth of Snowy the lamb in Llangibby, north Wales

Winter in suburbia: Snow-covered rooftops in Braydon, Tyne-and-Wear

As soldiers were called in to help clear roads in Scotland, the Prime Minister told the Commons: ‘We stand ready to give any assistance.

'We have ministerial meetings at effectively the Cobra level that are going through what action needs to be taken.

‘There is a bigger strategic supply of grit than there’s been in previous years.

‘The military stand ready to help and whatever needs to be done, I can guarantee you will be done.’

But he urged people to do their bit as well. ‘There’s also something that we can all do to help neighbours and people that could suffer in this cold weather by being good neighbours.’

Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, went further and urged homeowners with access to grit and salt to tackle those roads and pavements not treated by councils.

‘People have always dug their way out of their own driveways...and I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to,’ he said.

The weather across Scotland is forecastto warm up throughout today and some of the ice is expected to thaw,as the warmer winds blow in off the Atlantic.

Sub-zero temperatures have meant the snowfall has turned to thick ice, making travel treacherous and disrupting train services.

Beautiful cold: The sun sets over the village of Salsburgh in North Lanarkshire yesterday