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Snow closes schools in Greater Manchester plus city airports Snow closes schools in Greater Manchester plus city airports
(35 minutes later)
More than 200 schools are shut across Greater Manchester due to heavy snow that is causing widespread disruption for commuters and flights.More than 200 schools are shut across Greater Manchester due to heavy snow that is causing widespread disruption for commuters and flights.
Boroughs including Trafford, Salford, Oldham, Manchester and Stockport have confirmed 214 schools closures.Boroughs including Trafford, Salford, Oldham, Manchester and Stockport have confirmed 214 schools closures.
Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport closed their runways, but both have since reopened. Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport closed their runways, but both have now reopened.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted there had been multiple reports of crashes on the motorway network as well. A bus driver told the BBC the icy conditions had led to "chaos" on the roads.
Greater Manchester Police said there had been multiple reports of crashes on the motorway network. Highways England has confirmed the motorways had been gritted.
The bus driver in Wythenshawe said: "Standing water is starting to freeze as well. Cars are slipping. Even though it's been gritted, it's chaos.
"It's just scary. It's all nose to tail. In this weather if people bang their brakes on in front of you, you're not stopping."
Manchester Airport's runway was closed at 07:30 GMT, with work by the airport's airfield team ongoing to clear snow at 09:20. It reopened at 10:45.
The runway at Liverpool Airport was closed from 07:00 but had reopened by 09:50.
Simon Pendlebury has been sitting on a plane with hundreds of other passengers in Manchester waiting to fly to Lanzarote.
"We boarded the flight at 06:15 this morning, there are quite a few angry people now," he said.
"We tried to get a free bottle of water but were told we'd have to claim for it."
In Stockport, 70 schools alone have been closed, with more in Bury and Bolton.In Stockport, 70 schools alone have been closed, with more in Bury and Bolton.
Radio Lancashire reported at least 30 schools were closed across East Lancashire.Radio Lancashire reported at least 30 schools were closed across East Lancashire.
Commuters across other parts of the UK are also facing travel delays because of snow and ice.
In Manchester, passengers on the Metrolink tram service have been hit by delays caused by frozen points, while buses ground to a halt in Wigan.In Manchester, passengers on the Metrolink tram service have been hit by delays caused by frozen points, while buses ground to a halt in Wigan.
Traffic cameras showed slow-moving traffic on the region's motorway network as snow blanketed sections of the carriageway, causing treacherous driving conditions.Traffic cameras showed slow-moving traffic on the region's motorway network as snow blanketed sections of the carriageway, causing treacherous driving conditions.
Highways England responded to questions from Twitter users, reassuring them motorways had been gritted. One motorist complained to BBC Radio Manchester about the roads, saying it was "a total whiteout" on the M60.
Manchester Airport's runway was closed at 07:30 GMT, with work by the airport's airfield team ongoing to clear snow at 09:20. It reopened at 10:45. Commuters across other parts of the UK are also facing travel delays because of snow and ice.
The runway at Liverpool Airport was closed from 07:00 but had reopened by 09:50. Craig Dale is in charge of the gritting team in Oldham and said they had been gritting the network but had faced difficulties.
A spokesman said overnight efforts to clear runways were thwarted as more snow fell in the early hours. "The problem is we don't throw magic fairy dust on the roads. It's actually salt," he said.
"With the amount of snow we had - 3cm or 4 cm - it takes time to react with the snow and traffic."
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said there would be no services leaving or arriving at a bus depot operated by Stagecoach in Wigan until at least 10:00 because it was cut off by snow.Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said there would be no services leaving or arriving at a bus depot operated by Stagecoach in Wigan until at least 10:00 because it was cut off by snow.
Bolton Council said it had suspended refuse collections on Wednesday because of the weather.Bolton Council said it had suspended refuse collections on Wednesday because of the weather.
Metrolink said it had been running trams overnight to stop snow and ice building on overhead lines and tracks and it had also gritted platforms.Metrolink said it had been running trams overnight to stop snow and ice building on overhead lines and tracks and it had also gritted platforms.
It said Network Rail was dealing with a points failure in Timperley.
Highways England said there were delays of up to 90 minutes on the M6 southbound between junction 27 for Standish and junction 25 for Wigan while work was ongoing to clear snow from two lanes of the carriageway.Highways England said there were delays of up to 90 minutes on the M6 southbound between junction 27 for Standish and junction 25 for Wigan while work was ongoing to clear snow from two lanes of the carriageway.
A spokesman for Highways England said the North West's motorways were gritted at 20:00 on Tuesday, at 02:00 on Wednesday and again at 08:00 on Wednesday.A spokesman for Highways England said the North West's motorways were gritted at 20:00 on Tuesday, at 02:00 on Wednesday and again at 08:00 on Wednesday.
"The whole of the network is open with a lane closed here and there because of the snow," the spokesman said. "The whole of the network is open with a lane closed here and there because of the snow," the spokesman said. "It is very slow going in places."
"It is very slow going in places."