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| Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow | Forecasters issue new warning of persistent heavy snow |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Forecasters have issued a fresh warning of persistent heavy snow for southern Scotland and north east England. | Forecasters have issued a fresh warning of persistent heavy snow for southern Scotland and north east England. |
| A Met Office amber "be prepared" alert is now in place from 21:00 on Wednesday until 05:00 on Thursday. | A Met Office amber "be prepared" alert is now in place from 21:00 on Wednesday until 05:00 on Thursday. |
| Hundreds of drivers who spent the night stranded on the main route between Scotland and England have resumed their journey. | Hundreds of drivers who spent the night stranded on the main route between Scotland and England have resumed their journey. |
| Traffic Scotland said it was an improving picture on the M74 with vehicles moving, albeit slowly. | Traffic Scotland said it was an improving picture on the M74 with vehicles moving, albeit slowly. |
| Public transport has been disrupted and schools will remain closed in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Public transport has been disrupted and schools will remain closed in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| More than 200 Scottish schools or nurseries are shut or partially closed, affecting more than 20,000 pupils. | |
| The upgraded Met Office warning said travel delays were likely on roads with a risk that some vehicles and passengers could become stranded. | The upgraded Met Office warning said travel delays were likely on roads with a risk that some vehicles and passengers could become stranded. |
| Delays or cancellations are likely to rail and air travel. Some rural communities are likely to become cut off and power cuts are "probable". | Delays or cancellations are likely to rail and air travel. Some rural communities are likely to become cut off and power cuts are "probable". |
| Less severe yellow warnings remain in place with snow and ice forecast until Friday evening, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England likely to be affected. | Less severe yellow warnings remain in place with snow and ice forecast until Friday evening, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England likely to be affected. |
| The worst problems overnight were on the M74 in Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, with the motorway completely shut at times. | The worst problems overnight were on the M74 in Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway, with the motorway completely shut at times. |
| Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies. | Mountain rescue teams were sent to help drivers trapped in cars at Millbank and Beattock, checking they were warm and had adequate supplies. |
| In North Lanarkshire a lorry rolled down a hill, smashing into other vehicles and a fence, after two workmen got out to help clear the road. No-one was injured. | |
| Disruption was also reported on the M62 trans-Pennine motorway, although by Wednesday morning traffic was able to move. | |
| There have also been some school closures in Yorkshire. There are about 30 schools in Bradford which are to remain closed or have opened late. | There have also been some school closures in Yorkshire. There are about 30 schools in Bradford which are to remain closed or have opened late. |
| Travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 of the M74 in South Lanarkshire southbound and between junctions 14 and 15 northbound. | Travel on the M74 was particularly difficult around junction 12 of the M74 in South Lanarkshire southbound and between junctions 14 and 15 northbound. |
| One driver stuck on the northbound carriageway of the M74, Fergus McCann, said the impatience of other drivers had made things worse. | One driver stuck on the northbound carriageway of the M74, Fergus McCann, said the impatience of other drivers had made things worse. |
| He told the BBC: "There's been a fair bit of impatient driving going on. | He told the BBC: "There's been a fair bit of impatient driving going on. |
| "People are in one queue, then people are cutting out and trying to go down lanes that clearly are not for driving on. | "People are in one queue, then people are cutting out and trying to go down lanes that clearly are not for driving on. |
| "It's not a surprise that you're getting a few hundred yards down the road and you're seeing them facing the wrong way." | "It's not a surprise that you're getting a few hundred yards down the road and you're seeing them facing the wrong way." |
| Steve Harris became stranded on the M74 at 17:30 GMT and was still stuck between junctions 11 and 12 more than eight hours later. | Steve Harris became stranded on the M74 at 17:30 GMT and was still stuck between junctions 11 and 12 more than eight hours later. |
| "I've not moved really in the last four hours," he told BBC Radio 5 live at about 03:00 GMT. | "I've not moved really in the last four hours," he told BBC Radio 5 live at about 03:00 GMT. |
| "I've managed to get out of my car a couple of times to stretch my legs. The snow is probably between four and six inches deep around the cars." | "I've managed to get out of my car a couple of times to stretch my legs. The snow is probably between four and six inches deep around the cars." |
| Minister's apology | Minister's apology |
| Scotland's transport minister, Humza Yousaf, apologised to motorists who had been stuck in their vehicles overnight, but insisted everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving. | Scotland's transport minister, Humza Yousaf, apologised to motorists who had been stuck in their vehicles overnight, but insisted everything possible had been done to keep traffic moving. |
| He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programmed: "We had hundreds of patrol vehicles and gritter vehicles out in the days before and during." | He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programmed: "We had hundreds of patrol vehicles and gritter vehicles out in the days before and during." |
| Mr Yousaf said closing the motorway would have seen traffic diverted onto local roads, leading to pressure on those routes as well. | Mr Yousaf said closing the motorway would have seen traffic diverted onto local roads, leading to pressure on those routes as well. |
| He said: "What we're trying to do is to keep the traffic flow going. What happened last night was that as soon as a patch of road was cleared, it was very clear that as soon as people started moving they lost traction again." | He said: "What we're trying to do is to keep the traffic flow going. What happened last night was that as soon as a patch of road was cleared, it was very clear that as soon as people started moving they lost traction again." |
| Responding to reports that some councils had already spent their winter roads budget, he said the Scottish government was willing to have a "conversation" with local authorities on the matter. | Responding to reports that some councils had already spent their winter roads budget, he said the Scottish government was willing to have a "conversation" with local authorities on the matter. |
| Several hundred schools across Scotland are closed because of the weather conditions. | |
| Scottish Borders Council has said no schools will open in its area on Tuesday or Wednesday and 26 schools are shut in Dumfries and Galloway. | |
| In the Highland Council area, more than 150 schools and nurseries are shut or partially closed, affecting 15,000 pupils. | |
| Nearly 30 schools and nurseries are closed in South Lanarkshire and there are also a number of schools shut in East Ayrshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Perth and Kinross. | Nearly 30 schools and nurseries are closed in South Lanarkshire and there are also a number of schools shut in East Ayrshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Perth and Kinross. |
| Snow was still a hazard on urban roads at the start of the rush hour. | Snow was still a hazard on urban roads at the start of the rush hour. |
| A guide to travel warnings | A guide to travel warnings |
| Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather. | Travel conditions are graded at four levels by police and transport officials depending on the severity of the weather. |
| Earlier, police in Dumfries and Galloway warned against "all but essential travel". | Earlier, police in Dumfries and Galloway warned against "all but essential travel". |
| Dumfries & Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team - which was set-up to respond to the weather issues in the region - said: "We are working to clear the stuck vehicles and clear the crashes. | Dumfries & Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team - which was set-up to respond to the weather issues in the region - said: "We are working to clear the stuck vehicles and clear the crashes. |
| "Please remain in your vehicle and signal the mountain rescue team or police if you need any help or contact us via 999." | "Please remain in your vehicle and signal the mountain rescue team or police if you need any help or contact us via 999." |
| Scottish Fire and Rescue's station manager in Dumfries and Galloway said motorists had been driving "too close behind me" on his way to a crash, despite "blizzard conditions". | Scottish Fire and Rescue's station manager in Dumfries and Galloway said motorists had been driving "too close behind me" on his way to a crash, despite "blizzard conditions". |
| Have you been affected by snow in your area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by snow in your area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |