The M25 was at a standstill due to heavy snowfall last night, with many passengers trapped in their cars until the morning.
The adverse weather conditions led to "horrendous" delays in both directions, mainly between junction 23 and junction 28.
National Highways South East worked with police to get the traffic moving again. All motorways are now back open.
The motorway alongside the M11 was blocked for some time, with one driver reporting that they’d been stuck in the traffic since 8pm yesterday evening.
Taking to Twitter, they wrote: “@HighwaysSEAST @metpoliceuk been stuck on the M25 since 8pm. Complete standstill. A lot of people have No food or water. No gritter, police or highway patrol to be seen. Ridiculous. #M25.”
Gemma Rydqvist, 38, spent the entire night in her car travelling home to Bedford after a day in Colchester, Essex, with her mum Pamela, 60, and said the journey should have taken one hour.
But after leaving at 7pm on Sunday (11) she got stuck in the snowstorm, which caused chaos including breakdowns, crashes and standstill traffic.
"It was atrocious, there were so many crashes, people were stuck in the middle of the road - you couldn't move," she said.
"I don't know how many cars I had to push. I am so happy to be home.
"I walked in my door at 7:40am this morning. I had my disabled mum in the car. We had no water - she was suffering.
"There was nothing we could do."
Gemma, a distribution manager, added she had "never seen anything like it".
"The authorities were totally unprepared.
"It was horrendous but there was a real sense of community. Everyone was helping each other."
One commuter took to Twitter, typing: “Can anyone tell if ANY traffic is making a move or likely to make a move anytime soon on the M25 near Potters Bar?! Been at stand still for nearing 2 hours… and we’ve been on the road for nearly 9hours now! #M25 #standstill #uksnow.”
Some users were tired of being stuck in the gridlocked traffic throughout the night, with one sleepy motorist writing: “Gridlocked traffic on the M25. Currently between J25 - J24 and have not moved for 2ish hours. I’m tired and want to get sleep. #m25 #snow”.
Alongside being unable to sleep, passengers who have been stuck in the traffic for long periods of time have been running low on supplies, petrol and unable to go to the toilet.
One wrote: “being stuck on the m25 dying for a wee, no water or food and having work at 8am is not ideal we’ve been stuck here for 5 hours with no sign of movement #M25.”
Many were also panicking about being low on petrol and unable to heat their cars in the freezing temperatures.
One motorist commented: “Where are the emergency services? I’ve been stuck on the m11/m25 since 8.20pm! I’ve just done a 13 hour shift and just want to get home or hear some news? Barely any petrol left, freezing with not a person in sight? #m25 #m11 #standstill @EssexPoliceUK @essexhighways @BBCNews”.
Another typed: “Please can someone update us as to how long we will be stuck? I am low petrol now and can’t heat the car and I have a child. This is really scary. Never seen anything like this and Iv not seen any emergency services. #m25 #news #bbcnews #snow”.
One person said he’d been told that the reason for the standstill was due to “multiple accidents”, writing: “I’m still on the #m25 , clockwise, around J24. Hardly moved in 4 hours. Police officer moving traffic, trying to create space for emergency vehicles. Tells me there are multiple jackknifes, car fires and accidents up ahead. “Carnage”.”
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for ice and fog across the UK today.
Last night was the coldest night of the year, with temperatures hitting -15.7C in some areas.
Thousands of schools remain closed today due to the adverse weather conditions. See here for a full list of UK closures.
