Roads blocked and trains cancelled as snow continues to bite Shropshire
Trains are cancelled and roads are blocked as the adverse weather continues to bring disruption to Shrophsire.
Heavy snowfall and a strong easterly wind have caused snowdrifts to build up and blocked a number of minor roads, while lorries have struggled on the major routes with several jackknifing.
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MORE: Full school closure list
Meanwhile thousands of children were out sledging today after more than 220 schools took the decision to shut across the county, with around 100 more shutting in Mid Wales.
Although the M54 was flowing steadily for most of the day, two pile-ups caused long delays for drivers heading towards Shropshire during rush hour.
The crashes happened within a mile of each other just before 6pm and led to all westbound traffic being stopped while emergency services dealt with the aftermath between Junction 2 for Wolverhampton and Junction 3 for the A41.
Elsewhere earlier in the day lorries were jackknifing, vehicles were stranded and recovery trucks attempted to get through to motorists in need.
The A41 remains closed from Tern Hill to Weston Park, while a jackknifed lorry blocked the A5 at Shotatton for two hours during the morning rush hour and the A49 was also blocked just south of Bayston Hill.
Gritters and snow ploughs were out overnight and council teams were helped by farmers in tractors this morning, although in some areas snow built up again as soon as the plough had cleared it.
Most roads around Telford are now clear although in Shrewsbury, The Mount, Copthorne Road and Mytton Oak Road, which leads to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, remain tricky to navigate.
In south Shropshire the A488, B4378, B4214, B4368 and the B4364 were all been blocked, while snow blowers were being used on the Hope Valley, near Shrewsbury, and on the B4380 at Atcham where the carriageway was down to one lane.
People trying to use public transport have also been thwarted.
Arriva has cancelled many of its bus services and there are no trains running between Shrewsbury and South Wales, Aberyswyth and Welshpool.
And all services at Birmingham New Street were temporarily suspended at peak time on Friday evening due to a power failure.
Some bus providers have been attempting to run a reduced service although passengers waiting at Shrewsbury Bus Station claimed they were left in the dark as to which routes would be running and when.
Meanwhile the military has been put on standby by NHS Shropshire and were on hand to bring in staff to the county's main hospitals, while paramedics in Shrewsbury worked to clear snow at the town's ambulance hub.
We brought you live updates throughout the day:
