0:00:00 > 0:00:00That's all from the BBC News at Six -- so it's goodbye from me -
0:00:04 > 0:00:08Coming up on the programme tonight:
0:00:08 > 0:00:10The severe weather affects millions - in and around London -
0:00:10 > 0:00:18as trains and planes are disrupted by snow and ice.
0:00:18 > 0:00:18Since Sunday, by snow and ice.
0:00:18 > 0:00:18Since Sunday, we by snow and ice.
0:00:18 > 0:00:18Since Sunday, we have by snow and ice.
0:00:18 > 0:00:18Since Sunday, we have put by snow and ice.
0:00:18 > 0:00:19Since Sunday, we have put down by snow and ice.
0:00:19 > 0:00:19Since Sunday, we have put down about by snow and ice.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Since Sunday, we have put down about 60 tonnes of grit in the Square mile
0:00:21 > 0:00:25and have average and a daily 24-hour shift about 150 workers working to
0:00:25 > 0:00:27do that.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31And as it could be about to get even worse, we'll have the latest travel
0:00:31 > 0:00:39information to help you over the next 24 hours.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43And I am in Essex, were freezing cold temperatures brought buses and
0:00:43 > 0:00:48trains to a standstill this morning and forced many schoolchildren,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50their parents and commuters stay indoors.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Also tonight:
0:00:52 > 0:00:55The campaigners battling a terminal disease -
0:00:55 > 0:00:57as well as the Government - over whether sufferers should be
0:00:57 > 0:01:00forced back to work.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Go! Go!
0:01:03 > 0:01:04Go!
0:01:04 > 0:01:13And from snowball fights to sledging - Londoners make
0:01:13 > 0:01:19the most of the weather, with some schools
0:01:19 > 0:01:21cancelling PE - for less traditional school activities.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Good evening.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24I'm Asad Ahmed.
0:01:24 > 0:01:30Snow all around us from first light this morning -
0:01:30 > 0:01:31and a short time ago, in Central London,
0:01:32 > 0:01:33it started to fall again.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34Many schools were shut, while commuters battled
0:01:34 > 0:01:37just to get into and around London.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Freezing temperatures didn't help matters,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40with a biting wind chill being felt everywhere.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43There wasn't an area of London or the Home Counties
0:01:43 > 0:01:45which escaped the freeze, and it could all be
0:01:45 > 0:01:49about to get worse tonight.
0:01:49 > 0:01:56Our correspondent, Tom Edwards, has been seeing how London has coped.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59This was the day the Beast from the East repeatedly hit the capital
0:01:59 > 0:02:00with thick snow flurries.
0:02:00 > 0:02:10There one minute, only to quickly disappear.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16First thing, Londoners woke up to a thick layer
0:02:16 > 0:02:17of snow, which meant
0:02:17 > 0:02:24tricky journeys and icy roads.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27In East Dulwich, this driver slid down Dog Kennel Hill.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Buses didn't run on some routes, this one came off the road.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32And those that did run were packed.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34For Tom, from Twickenham, that meant a much longer journey.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36I think snow is going to cause disruption anywhere,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I understand it being a difficulty.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41But I think, by this point, you'd hope we can prepare
0:02:41 > 0:02:42a little bit better for it.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46I mean, you know, it was known ahead of time that it was going to snow,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49there could have been a bit more prep work, I think.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51There were again delays and cancellations on many Tube
0:02:51 > 0:02:53lines and on the trains.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Normally, you can clearly see the Shard here.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Dozens of South-Eastern services were unable to run.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Cancellations into London Fenchurch and Charing Cross, for example.
0:03:01 > 0:03:09And this is usually a view of the Thames at Blackfriars.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12The main roads have been gritted and salted and are flowing,
0:03:12 > 0:03:13as you can see, pretty well.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15That's not, though, the case on the side roads.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17They haven't been gritted at all.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18Much more treacherous.
0:03:18 > 0:03:24That's also the case on the pavements.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Road surfaces, though, changed quickly throughout the day,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32and some tried their best to grip the pavements.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and some tried their best to grit the pavements.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35Stephen looks after his street.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38We all work together and keep the area as best we can.
0:03:38 > 0:03:44As snow showers came and went, conditions
0:03:44 > 0:03:47changed from hour to hour, and vehicles inched around.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Or, in this case, gave up.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49Airports also cancelled flights.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50This was Stansted.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Commuters, though, were pretty resilient.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I'm used to this.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01I've been in the country for a while, so I'm not too...
0:04:01 > 0:04:02I'm not too bothered.
0:04:02 > 0:04:03I just take my time.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06It's not been too bad, about 20 minutes late also.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11But I know my colleagues have struggled to get in, so...
0:04:11 > 0:04:14In the Square Mile, it hasn't snowed since 2014.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18There, they've been working through the day to grip the roads.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22There, they've been working through the day to grit the roads.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26What we do is the main roads first, and we move to our main pavements.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30We keep police stations accessible, hospitals, public service buildings,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32and then we move to the other backstreets to do
0:04:32 > 0:04:33the pavements there.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35This timelapse footage shows London being hit
0:04:35 > 0:04:37by the snowstorms again and again.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42The bad news for commuters is, more snow is forecast.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Well, Tom Edwards is at Victoria Station tonight,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and he'll have the latest travel information for you.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50But before we hear from him, let's head to Essex,
0:04:50 > 0:04:51where thick snow fell overnight.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Chris Rogers has spent the day there.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Chris, tell us what it's been like.
0:04:58 > 0:05:06I don't care what it looked like on television. About five layers and
0:05:06 > 0:05:14thermals and it is -4 here and I can still feel the cold. This epitomises
0:05:14 > 0:05:18what happened in many parts of Essex this morning. If you lived here, you
0:05:18 > 0:05:23could not give -- get buses, they were not running. And even if you
0:05:23 > 0:05:29did get to those train stations, the trains were not running. Not so much
0:05:29 > 0:05:31the snow as the freezing temperatures that practically shut
0:05:31 > 0:05:41many parts of Essex town.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Chelmsford was a ghost town this morning.No one was going anywhere,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51with bus routes suspended and trains delayed or cancelled. No wonder many
0:05:51 > 0:05:56decided to stay at home.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01For those determined to get to work, it was not just icy tracks causing
0:06:01 > 0:06:04delays and cancellations. Dave usually mans the ticket machines.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Today, it was all hands on deck, or should I say platforms? What is the
0:06:08 > 0:06:12problem with the doors?They can be frozen and shut because of the
0:06:12 > 0:06:18river.Fred was trying to get the doors working.We will do whatever
0:06:18 > 0:06:22it takes, we have drafted in extra staff and there have been people at
0:06:22 > 0:06:27the platform since 5am clearing snow. People in the depot have been
0:06:27 > 0:06:31de-icing the trains. We are used to adverse conditions. Not quite as bad
0:06:31 > 0:06:35as this, but we used are trying to get the service.On the roads, and
0:06:35 > 0:06:40thus gritting paid off with main routes remaining driveable.But
0:06:40 > 0:06:45where was everyone? We are a bit busy today. We are just advising
0:06:45 > 0:06:49people to keep as warm as they can. We have got vehicles on the way to
0:06:49 > 0:06:54you.But imparts B roads, -- impossible B roads were making life
0:06:54 > 0:06:57difficult for the East of England Ambulance Service.Difficult day
0:06:57 > 0:07:03with the weather so we are unfortunately stacking holes and
0:07:03 > 0:07:06responses to patients at the moment due to the number of calls and
0:07:06 > 0:07:09resources we have on the road and the driving conditions are proving
0:07:09 > 0:07:15difficult to deal with. It is not typical to have this level of snow,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17it has come down very liquid which has been challenging to get the
0:07:17 > 0:07:20roads clear and we are having difficulties getting the ambulances
0:07:20 > 0:07:24through in difficult areas like coastal areas in Essex and is toward
0:07:24 > 0:07:27the South bend, it is difficult driving circumstances so difficult
0:07:27 > 0:07:30at this level of delays going through the patients for the Road
0:07:30 > 0:07:35traffic conditions we have got.We need the 200 schools close across
0:07:35 > 0:07:40Essex, many parents had to stay and work from home -- with nearly.My
0:07:40 > 0:07:45daughter was off school so we have come out lunch break.Is that what a
0:07:45 > 0:07:50lot of people have done, Essex teams have been abandoned?Definitely, a
0:07:50 > 0:07:53lot of our systems are really slow because the amount of people trying
0:07:53 > 0:07:59taxes them from home. Will you be back at school tomorrow?I hope not,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03but maybe.As temperatures stayed well below freezing, there was
0:08:03 > 0:08:09little appetite for anyone else as -- for anything else but sledging
0:08:09 > 0:08:16and snowball fights. I think we should hear from Nick Miller about
0:08:16 > 0:08:25tonight and tomorrow. I understand storm Emma is on the way.People
0:08:25 > 0:08:28will think it is not happening because there has been no snow but
0:08:28 > 0:08:33it has turned cold and snowy and the impacts have grown. We'll certainly
0:08:33 > 0:08:39not out this. It is the beast from East and now Stom Emma and people
0:08:39 > 0:08:43are wondering what we can expect from that. This is an area of low
0:08:43 > 0:08:48pressure in Iberia now moving North and the head of that, it is passing
0:08:48 > 0:08:53the moisture into the bitterly cold across the UK and our part of the
0:08:53 > 0:08:57world. And that does mean more snow on the way. The good news is that it
0:08:57 > 0:09:01does not look like we're in the real dangerous targets this system. That
0:09:01 > 0:09:08is more towards south-west England and Wales. But tomorrow, it instead
0:09:08 > 0:09:12of sunshine and snow showers, it will be a cloudy day with outbreaks
0:09:12 > 0:09:17of snow on and off on Thursday and lasting Thursday night and perhaps
0:09:17 > 0:09:22until Friday. We may not see significant accumulations, but we
0:09:22 > 0:09:26will see further accumulations. Any snow is an issue and it will be
0:09:26 > 0:09:30measured in further centimetres on what we have got. Yes, there is more
0:09:30 > 0:09:34snow on the way. The West from London, you will more significant
0:09:34 > 0:09:40snow there are than here. That does not mean to say we're not out of the
0:09:40 > 0:09:49woods, very challenging conditions still remain.Very much.
0:09:49 > 0:09:55We will hear from you later in the programme.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57OK, so now we know how things might be -
0:09:57 > 0:09:59let's hear from Tom Edwards at Victoria Station.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Tom many people struggled today - what's the advice for
0:10:02 > 0:10:03tonight and tomorrow?
0:10:03 > 0:10:07I am afraid it is Groundhog Day at Victoria and even worse than it was
0:10:07 > 0:10:13last night. Big crowds here, look at the boards, Orpington cancelled,
0:10:13 > 0:10:18Ramsgate. London bridged also delayed. And the trains leaving
0:10:18 > 0:10:23Victoria as you can see from this pottage are absolutely packed, it is
0:10:23 > 0:10:26going to be a big struggle for people to get home from here
0:10:26 > 0:10:30tonight. And I am afraid it will be the same tomorrow morning. This is
0:10:30 > 0:10:38the advice so far at the moment. Revised timetables for Southern and
0:10:38 > 0:10:42south-eastern and some stations may be closed in Kent and some branch
0:10:42 > 0:10:47lines, south-western as well. And also see QT may be running an
0:10:47 > 0:10:52amended timetable. There is some good news, a full-service, we hope,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55and Greater Anglia, Stansted express, Thames Link and great
0:10:55 > 0:11:04Northern. As 40th all services, this is what they had to say. -- as for
0:11:04 > 0:11:05Transport for London services.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08So there were some issues this morning on the London Underground
0:11:08 > 0:11:10system, and those were sorted out fairly quickly as we
0:11:10 > 0:11:13went through the day.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15We had a smaller disruption to bus routes, at the worst,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18we had 30 routes affected out of over 500 routes
0:11:18 > 0:11:19operating across London.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21And we've had our gritters out of traffic has been flowing
0:11:21 > 0:11:23pretty well on the major route across London.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26We're going to have our gritters out on the roads,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28we've got overnight making sure that your rails are de-iced
0:11:28 > 0:11:31and trains can keep running and so on, but I would advise people
0:11:31 > 0:11:34to check before you travel, because you never know,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36there may be localised disruption to you when you want to go
0:11:37 > 0:11:38travelling in the morning.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41This is what the Evening Standard as saying. Because these snow showers
0:11:41 > 0:11:47are extremely localised in some cases, the best advice is to check
0:11:47 > 0:11:54those websites. Back to you.At Victoria Station, thanks very much.
0:11:54 > 0:12:01Breaking news now just in as I speak about a man aged in his 60s who has
0:12:01 > 0:12:05died at Stanson on SPARC in South East London, very popular among dog
0:12:05 > 0:12:09walkers. He was found dead in the water and it is understood he went
0:12:09 > 0:12:14into the water to rescue his dog. If we have more information on that, we
0:12:14 > 0:12:19will bring it to you later. Snow is talking point of the day and we will
0:12:19 > 0:12:24have more.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26But there's also this to come too.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29They're already battling a terminal disease, now these campaigners
0:12:29 > 0:12:31are fighting the Government over whether they should be
0:12:31 > 0:12:36forced back into work.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Hundreds of teenagers gathered at a church in West London today
0:12:39 > 0:12:48for the funerals of two friends killed by a drunk driver.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Harry Rice and Josh McGuiness died alongside another boy,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54George Wilkinson as they walked to a birthday party in Hayes.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Tonight, their parents said their grief is like a 'life sentence' -
0:12:57 > 0:12:59and they want the driver to be given one too.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Here's Katharine Carpenter.
0:13:02 > 0:13:08A final journey along familiar streets.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12On this, the bleakest of days, friends and strangers in Harefield
0:13:12 > 0:13:14paused to pay their respects.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17These were local boys, and their deaths have been devastating.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19An absolute treasure.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22And that's the only way I can describe him,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26he was just a treasure, because he was so kind.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28We have our own life sentence now of just pure,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30it's like torture every day.
0:13:30 > 0:13:40I can only describe how I feel, it's like Groundhog Day every day.
0:13:41 > 0:13:50And I just don't know, I don't know what we'll do.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52The teenagers, described as 'cheeky and fun-loving', were mown down
0:13:52 > 0:13:54by a speeding drunk driver a month ago.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57They were with others on the way to a birthday party.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Today, hundreds of their friends gathered for their funeral.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Young shoulders carrying a heavy burden.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04A church so packed, some stood outside in the snow.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Teenagers do get a bad press, but all their friends,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09what they've done from the minute of this crash, they've arranged
0:14:09 > 0:14:17and organised events.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21They got the whole community within a day, they wrote
0:14:21 > 0:14:25to the council, got the council to reduce the speed limit,
0:14:25 > 0:14:30and they've promised to maybe put the cameras in.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33They also described the boys who stopped the fleeing
0:14:33 > 0:14:41car driver as heroes, and say, from now on,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43their focus will be campaigning for tougher sentences for those who
0:14:43 > 0:14:45kill behind the wheel.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50Katherine Carpenter, BBC London News.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54And our condolences to the three families involved.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55Motor Neuron Disease.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57In every single case, it's terminal.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Sufferers often die within two years of being diagnosed,
0:14:59 > 0:15:01which is why campaigners today protested outside Parliament
0:15:01 > 0:15:03against a Government policy which routinely
0:15:03 > 0:15:04re-assesses patients,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06to see if they're well enough to work.
0:15:06 > 0:15:13Marc Ashdown was also there.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Liam Dwyer is something of a miracle man, MND patients rarely survive
0:15:17 > 0:15:19more than a few years, but he's been battling
0:15:19 > 0:15:20the disease for 12 years.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23He and his wife Anna are under no illusions how tough things will get.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Pretty horrendous, and it will take away the use of all the muscles.
0:15:27 > 0:15:32And it will leave people, the majority of people,
0:15:32 > 0:15:37unable to speak, unable to walk, and eventually, they can not eat
0:15:37 > 0:15:44and swallow, and eventually, their breathing muscles as well.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Carrying on working, then, is out of the question.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49The government's employment support allowance provides finance
0:15:49 > 0:15:52when someone can't work due to a disability.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55But some 600 MND patients, including Liam, face
0:15:55 > 0:15:58being reassessed to see if they're now able to work.
0:15:58 > 0:15:58They don't know what causes it.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01There is the treatment for it, there is no cure for it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06So people are not going to get better.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11So it's a waste of the government's time, and it's very frustrating
0:16:11 > 0:16:15and hard for people to have to deal with.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16They don't want to know. It's ridiculous.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Yeah.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19You do get frustrated with it, don't you.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Liam joined other MND patients and families outside
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Parliament today to send a message to ministers.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Once assessed as unable to work, people like Dave here should be
0:16:28 > 0:16:31allowed to get on with living.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33There's no way I will improve.
0:16:33 > 0:16:40MND 100% never improves, you only get worse with it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43So to do reassessments ridiculous, which is stress on us as families.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45But also, it's a waste of public money.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50They want a quality of life, they want to actually live,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53instead of having all the stress.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54And that's why we're here today.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I lost my husband to motor neurone disease.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58I lost four family members to motor neurone disease.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59I had no physical reserves.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03The disease is probably best known because of
0:17:03 > 0:17:04Professor Stephen Hawking, who's been battling
0:17:04 > 0:17:06it for decades.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08But he is very much as unique as his mind.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10A third of patients die in the first year of diagnosis.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12More than half within two years.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15The Department for Work and Pensions told us they know how difficult
0:17:15 > 0:17:17it can be for people with debilitating conditions,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19and they're constantly ensuring assessments are kept
0:17:19 > 0:17:22as easy as possible.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23Since September, MND patients registering
0:17:23 > 0:17:27are no longer reassessed.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29That still leaves people like Liam facing stress and frustration
0:17:29 > 0:17:36when time is sadly against them. Mark Ashdown, BBC London News.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39A woman who was rescued from the 19th floor
0:17:39 > 0:17:41of Grenfell Tower in June - has died.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Those who knew her have described her as a 'flamboyant
0:17:43 > 0:17:45and colourful character', although she was already suffering
0:17:45 > 0:17:46from long-term health conditions.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Alex Bushill is here and can tell us more.
0:17:49 > 0:17:58Very sad, this, Alex.She was known as Pilly. Her husband said she died
0:17:58 > 0:18:02at the end of last month. For the previous seven months up until then,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06she had been in hospital. From previous interviews, they lived on
0:18:06 > 0:18:12the 19th floor and she had advanced outsiders because she couldn't walk.
0:18:12 > 0:18:18That's why he felt he was unable to carry her down 38 flights of steps
0:18:18 > 0:18:21at Grenfell when the fire broke out to effect an escape. He followed
0:18:21 > 0:18:25advice given and waited three hours before they were eventually rescued,
0:18:25 > 0:18:35around 3:30 in the morning. Her husband put in a statement that she
0:18:35 > 0:18:40was "A colourful, flamboyant and loving person that we were together
0:18:40 > 0:18:43the 34 years, and she was simply the love of his life."Alex Bushell,
0:18:43 > 0:18:48thank you.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51London has some of the highest rates of child poverty in the country,
0:18:51 > 0:18:55and over the last decade things have got even worse.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It's why a mother from Wandsworth, who became concerned
0:18:58 > 0:19:00about the situation set up a charity for babies and young
0:19:00 > 0:19:01children in need.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04It's called 'Little Village' and takes donations of baby
0:19:04 > 0:19:06clothes and accessories, giving them to those in need.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08And the charity says the number of families
0:19:08 > 0:19:10using its service is on the rise.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15Over the last month, we've seen babies sleeping on towels and sofa
0:19:15 > 0:19:23cushions, toddlers walking round in shoes two sizes too small.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25This is the face of poverty in London today
0:19:25 > 0:19:26and it's on our doorsteps.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Now to our look at how London has been influenced by cultures
0:19:29 > 0:19:31from around the world.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Today, we look at how the community from Down-Under
0:19:34 > 0:19:36has added to our appreciation of art and food.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38And before we go to the National Gallery,
0:19:38 > 0:19:44Wendy Hurrell takes us to meet some very active Australian women
0:19:44 > 0:19:50enjoying the taste of home right here.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Colourful conversation and shared humour over brunch
0:19:52 > 0:19:54on the Grand Union Canal at Paddington.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57We call this mashed avocado.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58But here, they call it smashed avocado.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01That's a bit of a cultural exchange, isn't it!
0:20:01 > 0:20:03This community's contribution to the capital is, amongst
0:20:03 > 0:20:09other things, fresh food and a coffee culture.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15These are members of the Australian women's club, who more than 10,000
0:20:15 > 0:20:19miles from home get together at art galleries, theatres and cinemas.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25They just absolutely love everything about London.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Its dynamism, its interest, its history, its culture.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29And they really embrace all their different interests.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32You'll never see everything you can in London, but we're certainly
0:20:32 > 0:20:36making a good shot at it!
0:20:36 > 0:20:41The lure of London's culture is nothing new to the Antipodeans.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42There's another Australian that spent time in London,
0:20:42 > 0:20:46a painter called Arthur Streeton.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49He came here eventually in 1897, and though he didn't really get
0:20:49 > 0:20:52the recognition he deserved and sent most of his work back home,
0:20:52 > 0:20:56he lived in the capital for 30 years.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01Now, though, one of his paintings sits very comfortable in the same
0:21:01 > 0:21:04room as those by van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin at the National Gallery
0:21:04 > 0:21:05in Trafalgar Square.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07He had never been to Europe.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10He knew about the new modern European painting being done
0:21:10 > 0:21:13by the impressionists in France.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15He said, I'm going to try my hand at this.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19I don't think any French impressionist painter
0:21:19 > 0:21:24would have chosen this very strongly vertical format.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27The cliff, the sea, this very vivid line that zigzags across the picture
0:21:27 > 0:21:31is like Chinese calligraphy.
0:21:31 > 0:21:39So here, you have a young man, isolated, if you will,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43off in Australia, but absorbing with a kind of extraordinary freedom
0:21:43 > 0:21:46the various influences he could find and producing a highly original
0:21:46 > 0:21:50art from it.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Arthur Streeton at the turn of the 20th century kept Australia
0:21:53 > 0:21:55in touch with art in Europe.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57And it's a cultural conversation that continues today.
0:21:57 > 0:22:05Wendy Hurrell, BBC London News.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08And you can see more on how cultures have been creative -
0:22:08 > 0:22:10on 'Civilisations' - starting tomorrow on BBC Two at 9 o'clock.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13Back to the snow now.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15And yes, it brings difficulties with travelling around
0:22:15 > 0:22:20and keeping yourself warm. But admit it.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23It is good fun, too, and this all comes days
0:22:23 > 0:22:26after the Winter Olympics ended.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29So has it given people a taste to try their hand
0:22:29 > 0:22:32at something knew, or does a good old fashioned
0:22:32 > 0:22:37snowball fight still win the day? Chris Slegg as been finding out.
0:22:37 > 0:22:45Are you ready? Staff, are you ready? Go!
0:22:46 > 0:22:52If snowball fighting was a sport at the Winter Olympics, the children in
0:22:52 > 0:22:56South end would win the gold. They don't believe in snowball bands
0:22:56 > 0:23:02here, in fact, the pupils take on the teachers. London's very own
0:23:02 > 0:23:07Winter Olympics is not just about snowball fighting, we have the first
0:23:07 > 0:23:11snowman World Cup going on in Regents Park. Over there, T Mexico,
0:23:11 > 0:23:16they admit they do not have an awful lot of experience and are taking on
0:23:16 > 0:23:22to my right our very own team GB. Look at that, a huge amount of snow,
0:23:22 > 0:23:28this could be big.It depends on how much free time we have, it could
0:23:28 > 0:23:32become a snowman. How are the opposition getting on?
0:23:32 > 0:23:36To be honest, we from Mexico, so it is our first snowman ever in the
0:23:36 > 0:23:41world. We are not experts in constructing a snowman.Meanwhile,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44over on Primrose hill, competition in the louche was intense. The
0:23:44 > 0:23:52champions, though, had to be Daisy and misty, who had their school
0:23:52 > 0:23:55closed for the afternoon.We have been doing this together since we
0:23:55 > 0:24:00were four. We have done years of going into
0:24:00 > 0:24:04trees and things, but now we've mastered it.You certainly have!
0:24:04 > 0:24:13Others, though, certainly haven't. No medal there. Back at the snowman
0:24:13 > 0:24:15making competition, there are surprise champions.
0:24:15 > 0:24:22The final whistle goes, this is the end product, T Mexico's first ever
0:24:22 > 0:24:28snowman. I'm impressed.It was definitely teamwork, and you know,
0:24:28 > 0:24:33why not do something fun on a Wednesday!Fun has not been in short
0:24:33 > 0:24:37supply.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43I loved the way teachers were taking on the pupils in the snowball fight,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47don't you love the way the reporters are wrapped up in their woolly
0:24:47 > 0:24:50jumpers tonight. Will they be wearing them tomorrow?
0:24:51 > 0:24:55They need to be. The snow is not going anywhere, it is so cold. The
0:24:55 > 0:25:00snow showers come down and nothing melts, and we got more snow showers
0:25:00 > 0:25:05in the short term before a longer spell of snow is on its way. It is a
0:25:05 > 0:25:09strange day when I came to work and found more snow in central London
0:25:09 > 0:25:12from my direction in Buckinghamshire, this is a picture
0:25:12 > 0:25:16from today, looks beautiful, but we know it has been bitter out there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20And the snow has been causing problems. There are snow showers out
0:25:20 > 0:25:23there at the moment and will continue to fall here and there
0:25:23 > 0:25:28overnight. A fume or centimetres in places, but most will get a further
0:25:28 > 0:25:32dusting here and there. It will fade further in the night, but there is
0:25:32 > 0:25:36more cloud showing up here, so it's not going to be as cold tonight as
0:25:36 > 0:25:41it was last night, but it will feel just as cold because of that win. To
0:25:41 > 0:25:47weather warnings, Met Office yellow, a warning for snow on Thursday and
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Friday as storm MR approaches, and not just snowing but windier than it
0:25:51 > 0:25:55has been, so wind chill is a significant factor again. --
0:25:55 > 0:26:01temporary work. It looks like things will be worst from this across
0:26:01 > 0:26:05England and Wales because of the Met office amber warning covering
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Hampshire and Berkshire as well, so you don't need to go too far west of
0:26:09 > 0:26:13London to find conditions like in London as well. Tomorrow will show
0:26:13 > 0:26:17its hand, and it is a different day because we have had sunshine and
0:26:17 > 0:26:21showers, a cloudy day, solid white here, and outbreaks of snow at times
0:26:21 > 0:26:28during the day. It will still be bitterly cold, not quite as cold in
0:26:28 > 0:26:32some spots, but the wind is still a factor and makes it feel much colder
0:26:32 > 0:26:36than the temperature might suggest, particularly with the strength of
0:26:36 > 0:26:40wind, approaching 20 mph with stronger gusts as well. It looks
0:26:40 > 0:26:43like outbreaks of snow will continue on Thursday night, and for much of
0:26:43 > 0:26:49Friday as well, giving further into metres in places. Look at next week,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52temperatures are heading up. Maybe a hint of spring at last.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Thanks the now.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Before we go, a look at the day's main news headlines.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00And no surprise about what everyone's talking about.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Snow and ice warnings are in place across large parts of northern
0:27:04 > 0:27:05and eastern Britain, with roads closed, trains
0:27:05 > 0:27:06cancelled and planes delayed.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Thousands of schools closed across the UK as sub zero
0:27:08 > 0:27:15temperatures took grip.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Readers are urged to check before they cavil tomorrow as temperatures
0:27:18 > 0:27:20continue to plummet tonight.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21That's it.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Do keep your pictures coming in of the snow.
0:27:23 > 0:27:30Send them on Facebook or Twitter and feel free to film yourself
0:27:30 > 0:27:33describing what it's like and how much you're enjoying or hating it.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34We may just get you on TV.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37I'll be back at 10:30 with our next news on BBC One.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Stay warm. I'll see you then.