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.
An adorable black bear cub struggles to find the perfect spot for an afternoon nap as he wriggles around on the branch of a maple tree .
SURROUNDED by divers, a hungry green sea turtle enjoys being the centre of attention .
An Italian photographer travelled to Chile where he visited several star-gazing sites, home to some of the world's most advanced telescopes, located in the spectacular setting of the Atacama desert .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .
SITTING quietly at the edge of the lake, these two baby bears watch and learn as the adults hunt for fish .
IN THE not so MISTY MOUNTAINS of Wiltshire, there lies an abandoned hobbit house .
GIANT garden sculptures don't beat about the bush .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
A mischievous fox cub demonstrates his playful side by biting his sibling’s tail .
INSIDE Britain's last Naval hospital where scurvy was cured looks like an NHS time capsule .
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 .
