Snow storms shut Ireland and force Britain to call in the army

A guardsman sits on duty in the snow at Horse Guards Parade in London. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

DUBLIN/LONDON (Reuters) - Snow storms shut most of Ireland on Friday and forced Britain to call in the army to battle some of the worst weather seen in nearly 30 years.

After a blast of Siberian weather dubbed "the beast from the east", southern Britain and Ireland were battered by Storm Emma which blocked roads, grounded planes and stopped trains.

At least 24,000 homes and businesses in Ireland were left without power, the stock exchange was shut, all schools were closed and transport ground to a halt with all flights cancelled from Dublin airport.

The Dublin Airport is seen covered with snow, in Dublin, Ireland, March 1, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media. DUBLIN AIRPORT/via REUTERS

In Britain, a seven-year-old girl was killed in Cornwall after a car crashed into a house in icy conditions, the BBC reported. Dozens of passengers were stranded on trains overnight in southern England.

The army was called in to help rescue hundreds of drivers stuck in the snow and to transport National Health Service workers. Roads were closed, schools shut and flights cancelled across Britain.

"The Armed Forces are assisting emergency services in ensuring essential NHS staff are able to get to work and carry out their work in local communities," a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said.

A man runs through the snow with his husky dog at the Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

The army is "standing by to help the Police and civil authorities across the UK following heavy snowfall. We are also aware of Armed Forces personnel volunteering in their own time with their own vehicles to help those in need."

(Reporting by Conor Humphries and Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by William Maclean)

A Ryanair aircraft is seen parked at a terminal as Dublin Airport is covered with snow, in Dublin, Ireland, in this still frame taken from social media video dated March 1, 2018. DUBLIN AIRPORT/ via REUTERS

People stand and watch rough seas as Storm Emma makes landfall in Dublin, Ireland March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Women take pictures of a statue of horses that is frozen over in the city centre of Dublin, Ireland. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

People walk along the street through the snow near Sterling Castle, Scotland, Britain, March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Canal boats are frozen at their berths on the Regent's Canal in Maida Vale in London, Britain. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

A woman walks through the snow storm in central London, Britain. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

A man places snow chains on his tyres in Leek, Britain. REUTERS/Carl Recine

A couple walk along the A53 Buxton Road, which is closed due to heavy snow fall, after abandoning their car near Leek, Britain. REUTERS/Carl Recine

The A53 Buxton Road is closed due to heavy snow fall, near Leek, Britain. REUTERS/Carl Recine

A snowplough works along the M80 motorway, near Castlecary, Scotland, Britain March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

A resident carries home their shopping near Sterling Castle, Scotland, Britain, March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne