Heavy snow blanketing northern Europe has caused many flight cancellations and delays at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands and Brussels airport. Nearly 300 KLM flights were cancelled at Schiphol, while Brussels airport scrapped at least 50. Travellers have been advised to check flight updates at home, rather than set off for the airport in bad weather.<br/><br/>In Germany, the heavy snow has caused many car crashes and traffic jams, as well as train delays. More than 300 flights were cancelled yesterday at Frankfurt airport, the busiest in Germany.<br/><br/>In France, 32 regions were put on an emergency footing, as snowstorms battered coastal areas and cut power to thousands of homes. About 80,000 homes reportedly lacked electricity in the Loire Valley today. <br/><br/>Snowstorms have also spread southwards to Italy, causing some travel chaos in northern regions. The snow caused the closure of schools in Liguria, Piedmont and Tuscany. Ferry services to the islands off Naples were suspended because of strong winds.<br/><br/>After heavy snowfall in the UK yesterday, thousands of homes were left without electricity and hundreds of schools were shut today. Road conditions were described as treacherous in many areas.