Snow is here to stay

Freezing temperatures overnight turned Shropshire and Mid Wales roads into ice rinks with a number of minor accidents reported.

More than 210 schools across the county closed or packed up early yesterday.

Up to 15cms (6in) of snow fell on higher ground, with up to 10cms (4in) elsewhere. Snow showers are expected to continue into next week and Shropshire was today on yellow alert for ice, with temperatures expected to fall to -3C (26.6F) tonight.

Several airports were forced to ground flights or close following thick snow flurries and near galeforce winds of 30mph.

A spokesman for Heathrow – which shut both runways for periods during the day to clear snow – said more than 400 flights were cancelled.

Passengers were stranded in the terminals and the backlog is expected to have a major knock-on effect on flightv times today.

Bristol and Birmingham airports also closed for a time while Southampton stayed shut for most of the day.

West Mercia Police issued a plea for drivers to take extra care after the snow turned to ice in many oparts ofShropshire, making overtaking particularly hazardous – even on major routes.

The M54 was moving freely this morning, but speeds were reduced by snow in the outside lanes. The A5 saw a similar story with snow still making driving conditions difficult.

Many smaller roads and housing estates were the worst affected. Council gritters were out trying to keep as many roads open as possible this morning.

Among the accidents were a car which span and ended up on its side in Cleobury Mortimer shortly before 8am. Just under 30 minutes later a car careered off Sandpits Bank in Ludlow. No-one was injured in either incident.

A lorry jack-knifed on the A442 Queensway in Telford at the Randlay interchange, causing delays for 20 minutes and the closure of one lane of the carriageway. and a lorry also skidded on a snow-covered road in Cherry Tree Hill, Coalbrookdale, ending up in a verge.

And a motorist escaped injury after an accident on Cheney Hill in Newport yesterday afternoon. West Midlands Ambulance Service reported a nearly 20 per cent increase in call outs from midnight until 1pm yesterday compared to a normal Friday. Among the major routes affected by snow included the A458 between Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth where traffic was brought to a standstill. The A4117 between Ludlow and Clee Hill was closed at Rocks Green due to snow and ice making the road treacherous.

Both Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council sent their gritters out overnight and again yesterday to try to keep the roads clear. Shropshire Council regularly sent out its fleet of 25 gritters while Telford & Wrekin Council doubled the amount of grit spread on the roads.

Officials at AFC Telford United issued an urgent appeal for fans to take up their shovels and head for the Bucks Head this morning to help clear the pitch ahead of the club;'s planned Blue Square Bet premier clash against Alfreton Town.

Volunteers were due to attend the ground from 8am today in a bid to help clear snow from covers laid across the pitch.

Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were open as usual.

London Midland train services between Shrewsbury and Birmingham were delayed by up to 20 minutes during last night's rush-hour.