TOWNS and villages across East Hampshire fell eerily quiet this evening as heavy snow swept across the district.

On streets normally filled with traffic there were no vehicles to be seen as people heeded the warnings about the severe weather.

In Petersfield, snow covered the roads and pathways in the town centre and the only signs of life were pedestrians braving the freezing cold temperatures, walking to their evening appointments.

The Square had a good covering of snow and the kebab van could be found in its usual location but there were few takers for food or snowball fights as the biting, bitter wind got stronger.

The scene was similar in Horndean village centre, with people preferring to stay indoors rather than getting out to enjoy the snowy conditions.

A tractor fitted with a snow plough busily went up and down the main roads trying to keep them clear for what little traffic could be found travelling through the area.

Those motorists who were out and about were just about able to negotiate the slopes around the village but driving conditions were reported to be getting more difficult as the evening wore on.