Snow enjoys last hurrah with rain on the way

Icy conditions expected to retire to the south-west as heavy falls force stranded motorists to take shelter in Somerset church hall

Heavy snow returned to the south-west of England, Wales and the Midlands overnight in what may be its last hurrah before a wetter and milder front relieves the icy spell at the weekend.

Up to 9cm (3.5in) fell, stranding 30 motorists on the A39 in Somerset, where the parish hall in the village of Nether Stowey was opened at 2am to provide emergency bedding.

Northern Scotland and much of the north of England had around 2cm (0.8in) of snow but are expected to have drier and sunnier conditions as the day goes on. The Pennine summit of the M6 motorway at Shap, in Cumbria, took over from Cambridge as the coldest place in the UK overnight, but its low of -6.1C (21F) was only half the previous night's chill on the Fens.

The snow is expected to retire to the south-west and south Wales, and to hold off on Thursday before returning sporadically across the UK on Friday. The Meteorological Office says a major change will then set in.

It says: "Rain, heavy in places, will move eastwards across all areas on Sunday, perhaps with some snow in the east at first, but somewhat milder conditions will take over from the west during the day. Then a very unsettled period of weather looks to establish itself, with further spells of rain, interspersed with clearer, showery interludes for many areas.

"It will also be windy at times, with a risk of gales or even severe gales in the west. Temperatures will recover to around the seasonal average in many parts, although it will often feel cold in the wind and rain. Initially, frost and ice will become less of a threat, but there are indications that the cold air may make more advances towards the UK by the end of the period."

The first fortnight in February, up to St Valentine's Day, also suggests "greater-than-average uncertainty", according to the forecasters, as the mild Atlantic and icy continental fronts continue their long seasonal battle.

Police in 4x4s co-operated with local residents to find shelter for travellers stranded on the A39, which was blocked between Bridgewater and Williton by snow and trees that had collapsed under the weight of the fall. After being ferried to Nether Stowey fire station, they were given hot drinks while police awoke a local councillor to get the key to the parish hall. Inspector Adam Crockford said: "It was a group effort by the emergency services, and a bit of community spirit."

Sporting fixtures at the weekend remain in doubt in some areas, but punters are hopeful Cheltenham Trials Day will go ahead, with its important place in preliminaries for the Gold Cup. Wednesday racing at Lingfield was to go ahead, as it was at Kempton, which lost its meetings on Monday and Tuesday owing to ice and snow.

• This story was amended shortly after publication, correcting the temperature in Shap from 6.1C to -6.1C