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| UK snow: M62 motoray reopens after closure | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The M62 motorway, where hundreds of snowbound drivers were trapped for more than a day, has reopened. | The M62 motorway, where hundreds of snowbound drivers were trapped for more than a day, has reopened. |
| Motorists became stranded on Thursday evening in heavy snow as wind speeds reached more than 93mph on the Rakewood Viaduct near Rochdale. | |
| The Army was deployed to help rescue those trapped both ways between junctions 20 and 24 and volunteers delivered food and blanket supplies. | The Army was deployed to help rescue those trapped both ways between junctions 20 and 24 and volunteers delivered food and blanket supplies. |
| Highways England said the road had reopened in the early hours. | |
| Staff had been waiting for the winds to drop below 60mph after gusts peaked at 93mph. | |
| Emergency planning manager Andrew Charnick said: "We've been working throughout the night to reopen the road as soon as it was safe to do so and we would like to thank drivers for their patience. | |
| "The weather remains wintery over the Pennines and we ask drivers to take extra care and drive to the conditions." | |
| The UK has been battered in recent days by a combination of the so-called Beast from the East and Storm Emma, which brought heavy snowfall, ice and hazardous conditions. | The UK has been battered in recent days by a combination of the so-called Beast from the East and Storm Emma, which brought heavy snowfall, ice and hazardous conditions. |
| The Met Office has two active yellow warnings in place for Saturday, covering large areas of the UK. | The Met Office has two active yellow warnings in place for Saturday, covering large areas of the UK. |
| More snow stories: | More snow stories: |
| Not just snowmen: Wintry creations around England | Not just snowmen: Wintry creations around England |
| Farmer uses oven to save freezing lambs | Farmer uses oven to save freezing lambs |
| The Lincolnshire villages cut off by snow | The Lincolnshire villages cut off by snow |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had said 3,500 vehicles were stuck on the motorway on Thursday evening. | |
| Many were brought off the road, but about 200 vehicles were stuck there overnight before being freed on Friday afternoon by police and the army. | |
| Rescuers made lasagne for up to 1,000 drivers stuck for nearly 18 hours near Milnrow, while supermarkets provided sausage rolls. | |
| Resident Gary Foster, 49, told the BBC a 15-year old-boy "walked up to two miles to bring blankets and hot food and water. He was amazing and has come again to help". | Resident Gary Foster, 49, told the BBC a 15-year old-boy "walked up to two miles to bring blankets and hot food and water. He was amazing and has come again to help". |
| Elsewhere, GMP said the A58 between Littleborough and Ripponden and the A672 between Denshaw and Rishworth have also reopened, but urged people only to venture out if absolutely necessary. | |
| A spokesman said: "We would like to thank members of the public for their patience whilst work on these roads was carried out." | |
| Electricity North West engineers have restored power to 21,250 properties in Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Lancashire and the Peak District and are working to restore supplies to the remaining 1,000. | |
| Manchester Airport has warned there are still some cancelled flights and is asking passengers to check with their airline before travelling. |