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.
A diving guide leaves a shark completely docile and balanced in the palm of his hand .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .
MEET the underwater British seal who is so friendly he loves to grapple divers like a friendly puppy dog .
EXPERTLY camouflaged, this clever panther chameleon knows how to catch its prey by surprise .
A pair of snarling foxes go paw-to-paw and brawl after unexpectedly crossing paths .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
A kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .