VIDEO: Forget snow chaos, playing in the white stuff is so much fun

THE freezing conditions have had a snowball effect on one shopkeeper's trade after he sold more than 300 sledges in three days.

Charlie Greens hardware shop in Chaddesden became a hotspot at the weekend for purchasing the essential item for snowy fun after many bigger stores sold out.

And the Met Office is predicting that people will get plenty of opportunity to use their new sledges, with more snow predicted today and freezing temperatures and more snow in store for the rest of the week.

Tim Green, owner of the Sussex Circus shop, said he sold more than 100 sledges on Saturday alone.

He said: "They're about the best thing we've sold all January. We haven't made lots of money from them but it's just nice to help people out.

"We sold out on Saturday but people kept coming in trying to get one. It was great fun to see the look on kids' faces when they bought them."

Hundreds of people took to their sledges at Darley Park to enjoy the snow this weekend. Among them were Phil, Sarah and Samuel Watson, of Highfield Park Drive, Derby.

Three-year-old Samuel said he was enjoying the snow and mum Sarah, 39, said they enjoy the park all year round.

She said: "We've come down to the park with Samuel every year it has snowed. He seemed a lot braver on his sledge this time, though."

Derby Telegraph picture editor Victoria Wilcox sledging in Darley Park:

Dave King, 49, and his dog, Charlie, of St John's Road, said he was woken up early to go to play in the snow.

He said: "It was my wife who woke me up. She was more excited than the kids. Charlie enjoyed himself too."

Tom Boyd, 14, and Jack Robinson, 13, both from Weston-on-Trent, built an igloo made from balls of snow.

Tom said: "It's taking us ages and it's really tiring."

Jack said: "It is either a snowball circle or an igloo, we're not sure what it will end up as."

Steven and Joanne Glenn, along with their children, Matthew, 11, and James, eight, spent hours in the park together. Mrs Glenn said: "It's lovely to spend time together as a family."

Yesterday, snow fell across the county and the Met Office said snow showers would continue today into the early hours of tomorrow, but that they should not be too heavy in the city. However, more rural areas in higher ground could see up to 20cm of snow.

Temperatures will rarely reach above freezing this week but the snowfall should stop by Thursday. The end of the week will be cloudy and very cold with temperatures not reaching above 1C.

Yesterday, the snow caused travel misery across the UK with some train operators running reduced services and Heathrow Airport cancelling 260 flights.

East Midlands Airport was closed at 2.40pm on Friday, but reopened again at 10pm. An airport spokeswoman said flights "ran as normal" for the rest of the weekend.