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Heavy snow hits much of England Heavy snow hits much of England
(41 minutes later)
Heavy snow has fallen across large parts of England, disrupting travel and closing hundreds of schools.Heavy snow has fallen across large parts of England, disrupting travel and closing hundreds of schools.
South-east England has the worst snow it has seen for 18 years, causing all London buses to be pulled from service and the closure of Heathrow runways. South-east England has the worst snow it has seen for 18 years, causing all London buses to be pulled from service and the closure of Heathrow's runways.
Road and rail travel was also badly hit by up to 6in (15cm) of snow.Road and rail travel was also badly hit by up to 6in (15cm) of snow.
The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and parts of eastern Scotland. More snow is forecast later and on Tuesday.The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and parts of eastern Scotland. More snow is forecast later and on Tuesday.
'Dangerous driving''Dangerous driving'
Thousands of school children across England woke up to the news their school was closed for the day. Thousands of school children across England woke up to the news that their school was closed for the day.
In Essex more than 450 are shut and 255 Berkshire schools are now closed. Leicestershire and Rutland gave pupils at 200 schools the day off.A snowman greeted BBC website reader David Shipway on his doorstep In Essex, more than 450 are shut and 255 Berkshire schools are now closed. Leicestershire and Rutland gave pupils at 200 schools the day off.BBC website reader Fiona Morse snapped Surrey Quays under snow
Hundreds more are closed across north-east England, East and West Sussex, Kent, Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Suffolk where snow-ploughs were out on the county's roads for the first time in more than 15 years. Hundreds more are closed across north-east England, East and West Sussex, Kent, Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Suffolk, where snow-ploughs were out on the county's roads for the first time in more than 15 years.
Bad weather in London also forced the closure of the Old Bailey courts. Bad weather in London has also forced the closure of the Old Bailey courts.
Air travel has been badly affected.
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  • London City, Luton and Southampton airports are closed. Norwich and Leeds Bradford airports have now reopened.
  • Heathrow Airport has had to shut both runways and says it will take about two hours to reopen.
  • BAA has warned passengers travelling to and from Heathrow and Stansted airports to expect "significant delays and cancellations".
  • BA says it has cancelled 65 flights, while 73 Ryanair flights are grounded.
  • Gatwick is open, although fewer aircraft are able to take off. Some 23 flights had to be cancelled and 18 diverted to other airports after Gatwick closed its runway for two hours on Sunday evening.
  • There is no service on the Gatwick Express.
Air travel has been badly affected.
IMPACT OF THE SNOWFALL Hundreds of schools closedLondon buses withdrawnBoth runways closed at HeathrowLondon City and Luton airports closedPassengers stranded at GatwickTrain services cancelled class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7864553.stm">At-a-glance guide to snow impact class="" href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/">Transport for London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5991&edition=2">Have you been affected? Passengers due to fly out during the day are being urged to double-check their flights are not affected before they begin their journeys. At Heathrow Airport near London, a plane slipped off a taxiway due to the snow and icy conditions.
On the roads, motorists were being warned of dangerous driving conditions.
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  • There are warnings on the M6 in Greater Manchester, while the M60, M66 and M602 have also been affected by the snow.
  • The London-bound M20 in Kent was temporarily closed between junction nine at the Ashford turn-off and junction eight at the Leeds Castle turn-off.
Passengers aboard the Cyprus Airways flight were unharmed.
The British Airports Authority said the front wheel of the plane landed in the grass area and they were in the process of removing the plane.
  • Both runways at Heathrow are now closed. All flights from Heathrow Terminal 5 have been cancelled.
  • London City, Luton and Southampton airports are closed. Norwich and Leeds Bradford airports have now reopened.
  • BAA has warned passengers travelling to and from Heathrow and Stansted airports to expect "significant delays and cancellations". IMPACT OF THE SNOWFALL Both runways closed at HeathrowPassengers stranded at GatwickSouthampton Airport closed BAA London City and Luton airports closed London City AirportLuton Airport London buses withdrawn Transport for London Train services cancelled National Rail Enquiries Hundreds of schools closed At-a-glance guide to snow impact
  • BA says it has cancelled 65 flights, while 73 Ryanair flights are grounded.
  • Gatwick is open, although fewer aircraft are able to take off. Some 23 flights had to be cancelled and 18 diverted to other airports after Gatwick closed its runway for two hours on Sunday evening.
  • There is no service on the Gatwick Express.
Passengers due to fly out during the day are being urged to double-check their flights are not affected before they begin their journeys.
On the roads, motorists were being warned of dangerous driving conditions.
There have been a string of accidents on many motorways and A roads, causing road closures, long delays and vehicles to become stranded.
LINKS TO OUR UK COVERAGE London: Snow disrupts travelSouth: Heavy snow fallsSouth East: Roads and schools closedWest Midlands: Schools closedNorth: School closuresScotland: Flights disruptionWales: Braced for snowfall NI: Flights hit by snow
And there was more bad news for people trying to use public transport.
  • All London buses have been withdrawn from service due "to adverse weather and dangerous driving conditions"
And there was more bad news for people trying to use public transport.
  • All London buses have been withdrawn from service due "to adverse weather and dangerous driving conditions"
A BBC reporter said he saw many people left confused and distressed after waiting for long periods for buses, only to see them drive past without being in service.A BBC reporter said he saw many people left confused and distressed after waiting for long periods for buses, only to see them drive past without being in service.
The snow delighted many but bought travel misery for others There are also problems on the London Underground and rail network.
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  • Many Tube lines are partially suspended and the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines entirely suspended.
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  • South West Trains is running a reduced service on most routes and passengers are advised not to travel unless their journey is essential.
There are also problems on the London Underground and rail network.
  • Many Tube lines are partially suspended and the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines entirely suspended.
  • South West trains is running a reduced service on most routes and passengers are advised not to travel unless their journey is essential.
Scotland Yard said it had reports of a number of crashes in the early hours, though no-one was seriously hurt.
'Flirting with hypothermia'
The Highways Agency said there have been too many minor accidents on the roads "to put a number on".The Highways Agency said there have been too many minor accidents on the roads "to put a number on".
The agency recommended people should only make essential journeys.BBC website reader Fiona Morse snapped Surrey Quays under snow BBC weather presenter Jay Wynne said further snow showers were expected during the morning across much of England, eastern parts of Wales and eastern parts of Scotland. The agency recommended people should only make essential journeys.
BBC weather presenter Jay Wynne said further snow showers were expected during the morning across much of England, eastern parts of Wales and eastern parts of Scotland.
Temperatures in the afternoon would not reach above freezing, he said.Temperatures in the afternoon would not reach above freezing, he said.
In the late afternoon, more heavy snow is forecast to hit the eastern part of England, including East Anglia, London and the Home Counties, accompanied by "strong winds, blizzard conditions". In the late afternoon, more heavy snow is forecast to hit the eastern part of England, including East Anglia, London and the Home Counties, accompanied by "strong winds, blizzard conditions".The snow delighted many but bought travel misery for others
This will work its way up through the Midlands, northern England and eastern Scotland.This will work its way up through the Midlands, northern England and eastern Scotland.
Evening temperatures will fall to about -1C for many areas of England and eastern Wales, with the weather turning icy by Tuesday morning making road travel treacherous.Evening temperatures will fall to about -1C for many areas of England and eastern Wales, with the weather turning icy by Tuesday morning making road travel treacherous.
There will be minor snowfalls and temperatures will reach about 4C in most areas by Tuesday afternoon.There will be minor snowfalls and temperatures will reach about 4C in most areas by Tuesday afternoon.
One motorist, driving in the Midlands on Monday, told the BBC conditions were much clearer there, but highway officers told him they had responded to 1,735 incidents over a 24-hour period in the East Midlands alone.One motorist, driving in the Midlands on Monday, told the BBC conditions were much clearer there, but highway officers told him they had responded to 1,735 incidents over a 24-hour period in the East Midlands alone.
The Highways Agency said the organisation was well prepared to deal with snowfall over roads after criticism over its reaction to severe weather in 2003.The Highways Agency said the organisation was well prepared to deal with snowfall over roads after criticism over its reaction to severe weather in 2003.
It added that the number of traffic officer patrols had been increased, there were extra staff to control rooms across the country and gritters had been working through the night.
The AA has warned motorists to ensure they keep warm clothes in their vehicles if they were planning to go out, or else risk "flirting with hypothermia".
Show us your snow by sending your pictures and videos using the form below.Show us your snow by sending your pictures and videos using the form below.
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100.
Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
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