And for 17-year-old Amanda Amaral it was something she had never experienced before in her life.

As temperatures plunged on Tuesday lunchtime and large snowflakes fell on the district, the exchange student from Piracicaba, in the south of Brazil, looked up in wonder. She is in Leamington while she studies AS levels in geography, maths and physical education, as part of the Rotary organisation's Youth Exchange programme. And quite frankly, she had never seen anything like it.

Leamington Spa Regency Rotary Club spokesman and past president, Paul Beedham, said: "Her friends back home are experiencing temperatures of 40 degrees celsius at the moment and she had great difficulty explaining what it felt like to experience the climate here.

"One of her passions is painting, and seeing the combination of snow coating the trees with their autumn colours proved quite inspirational to her."

Others out enjoying the big freeze were the Southall family, who rushed out with a sledge to Newbold Comyn. Haz, eight, Jack, nine and three-year-old Millie discovered there was just enough of a fall to enjoy some speedy rides.

It was all far less fun for those caught out in the cold shopping in Leamington Spa, where the Parade became blizzard-bound for a time.

And as police warned about leaving keys in unattended cars left running to thaw - following a low of three below zero early on Wednesday morning - many drivers were more concerned about getting into their iced-shut vehicles at all.

None of that mattered at the Dogs Trust kennels at Honiley, near Kenilworth, where Diesel, six, and Tilly, two, who both need rehoming, had a great time.

Deputy manager Alison Bamford said: "All of the dogs had a fantastic time playing outside today.

"For some it was their first experience of snow and there were some very excited pooches out there!"

* It will remain chilly at the weekend, the Meteorological Office has forecast - although the midweek daytime highs of three and four degrees celsius will increase to nine and ten, with rain late on Saturday and early Sunday rather than snow.

Warwickshire County Council's highways department had four gritters out in the Leamington and Warwick area and there were no serious accidents on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A spokesman said: "The gritters were sent out on Tuesday night to give the road surfaces a full salt grit. A handful went out again on Wednesday morning to deal with some very localised areas. This is the first time they have been out this season and it is the earliest time of year we can ever remember having to grit the roads."