If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters. Brit photographer Simon Phillpotts captured a family of red squirrels darting about in the freshly fallen snow, looking frantically for somewhere to hide their nuts. The adorable squirrels were caught on camera near Hawes, North Yorks., as the country surrenders to the annual traffic and travel chaos caused by widespread snowfall. Simon braved the freezing temperatures to grab these amazing shots of the squirrels as they frolicked in the snow, jumping into drifts and hunting for grub amongst the white stuff. Simon said: "They were just running around, burying nuts - they don't stop, even in winter.
DIPPING his head into the vase of water, this little squirrel takes a refreshing break from an afternoon of eating .
SAT with his arms folded and a cross look on his face, this Gorilla looks like he's had enough of the Christmas holidays already .
IN a galaxy far, far away, this collection of stunning interstellar formations will leave you STARSTRUCK .
An artist has transformed traditional Thanksgiving dinners into mini-masterpieces .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy .
This may look like a monster car engine that will leave petrol heads in a spin, but it is in fact a rather snazzy looking COFFEE MACHINE .
It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals .
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
WITHOUT A care in the world, this little snow monkey puts his feet up and settles in for a snooze .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .