Trading on the London Stock Exchange fell by nearly a fifth yesterday as heavy snow and freezing temperatures across the south of England the previous night paralysed transport links and left some key trading staff unable to reach work.

The value of trading at the main UK exchange fell 17.2% to €5.2bn ($7.5bn) from €6.3bn on the previous day and €6.5bn on the first Wednesday of last year, according to data from European trading platform Bats Europe.