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Fresh snow brings travel problems Fresh snow brings travel problems
(40 minutes later)
More snowfalls overnight in parts of England and Wales have brought fresh travel disruption and school closures.More snowfalls overnight in parts of England and Wales have brought fresh travel disruption and school closures.
The M4, particularly around Bristol and Swindon, the M5 and the M1 in the south Midlands are badly affected.The M4, particularly around Bristol and Swindon, the M5 and the M1 in the south Midlands are badly affected.
Runways at Birmingham, Luton, Cardiff, Belfast City and East Midlands airports are shut, 300 Welsh schools are closed and Bristol public transport is hit. Runways at Birmingham, Luton, Cardiff, Belfast City and East Midlands airports are shut, 550 Welsh schools are closed and Bristol's public transport is hit.
There are several severe weather warnings in place and councils say they are running low on gritting salt.There are several severe weather warnings in place and councils say they are running low on gritting salt.
'Exceptionally cold''Exceptionally cold'
The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Some five inches of snow (12.7cm) has been reported in parts of the West Country. Some 20cm (7.9in) of snow has been reported in parts of the Cotswolds. SNOW DEPTHS Cotswolds: 20cm (7.9in)Salisbury Plains: 12cm (4.7in)Oxfordshire: 10cm (3.9in)Chilterns: 10cm (3.9in)Bristol: 10cm (3.9in)Midlands: 12cm (4.7in) Source: BBC Weather Centre
KEY LINKS class="" href="http://www.baa.com/">BAA class="" href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/">Transport for London class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/">National Rail Enquiries class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather class="" href="http://www.highways.gov.uk/">Highways Agency class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7868066.stm">School closures in Wales The BBC Weather Centre said the heaviest snow was currently falling in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, while large snowfall has been reported in Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland.
The BBC's weather forecaster Rob McElwee said all southern counties of England and Wales would see snow or freezing weather, and up to two inches (5cm) could fall in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Snow is forecast to gradually become lighter during Thursday as the band of bad weather moves north, but very little of the existing snow cover is expected to melt.Snow is forecast to gradually become lighter during Thursday as the band of bad weather moves north, but very little of the existing snow cover is expected to melt.
Some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, the Local Government Association (LGA) admitted. Worcestershire County Council are not gritting roads but sending out snow ploughs.Some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, the Local Government Association (LGA) admitted. Worcestershire County Council are not gritting roads but sending out snow ploughs.
Derek Turner, Director of Networks Operations at the Highways Agency, said it had "three, four days of salt supplies remaining". Derek Turner, Director of Networks Operations at the Highways Agency, said it had "three, four days of salt supplies remaining". FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
Paul Bettison of the LGA told the BBC's Today programme that the UK should look to importing fresh supplies of salt.Paul Bettison of the LGA told the BBC's Today programme that the UK should look to importing fresh supplies of salt.
"That requires government to actually work with us all, and then we can do it as one - rather than, as we've seen, having this scrapping for what limited supplies are available.""That requires government to actually work with us all, and then we can do it as one - rather than, as we've seen, having this scrapping for what limited supplies are available."
The AA said the question of which roads would be gritted was a "lottery", adding: "In some areas 40% of roads are gritted, some 25% and indeed some just 20%."The AA said the question of which roads would be gritted was a "lottery", adding: "In some areas 40% of roads are gritted, some 25% and indeed some just 20%."
The Highways Agency is continuing to advise drivers to take extreme care and not to travel in the worst affected areas unless it is essential. A spokesman for the Highways Agency has advised drivers to take extreme care and not to travel in the worst affected areas unless it is essential.
Travel disruption across the country has included:
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  • The M4 was the worst-affected route with much of the snow lying and lanes closed. Conditions on the M5 around Birmingham are reported to be deteriorating, and the M1, M3, M11 and M40 are also affected. Lorry drivers have been urged to stay off the roads in Northamptonshire Traffic ground to a halt at Rothwell junction near Kettering (pic: reader James Bishop)
  • The National Rail Enquiries website is reporting disruption to First Great Western and London Midland services
  • There are at least 10 cancellations on the National Express East Coast line and more on Virgin Trains between London Euston and Birmingham
  • Trains are not running on the Severn Beach line near Bristol and First, Wessex and South Gloucestershire bus services are also currently suspended around the city
  • Arriva bus services are suspended in Aylesbury, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes and Luton
  • The runways at Birmingham, Luton, East Midlands and Cardiff Wales airports have been closed. Birmingham, Luton and Cardiff, where passengers have been advised to check in as normal, are expected to reopen soon. Flights were cancelled at Belfast City Airport, with planes diverted to Belfast International Airport,
School closures
Fresh snowfalls could also lead to more schools deciding to close on Thursday. The Great Western Ambulance Service has brought in 4x4 vehicles to try to maintain their services. The East of England Ambulance Service has asked people to call 999 only in an emergency. KEY LINKS class="" href="http://www.baa.com/">BAA class="" href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/">Transport for London class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/">National Rail Enquiries class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather class="" href="http://www.highways.gov.uk/">Highways Agency class="" href="/1/hi/wales/7868066.stm">School closures in Wales
Some 300 in Wales have already said that they will shut, while other closures have been reported in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Devon, Bristol, Shropshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Solihull, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Norfolk. Travel disruption across the country has included:
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  • The M4 was the worst-affected route with much of the snow lying and lanes closed. Conditions on the M5 around Birmingham are reported to be deteriorating, and the M1, M3, M11 and M40 are also affected. Lorry drivers have been urged to stay off the roads in Northamptonshire
  • The National Rail Enquiries website is reporting disruption to First Great Western and London Midland services
  • There are at least 10 cancellations on the National Express East Coast line and more on Virgin Trains between London Euston and Birmingham
  • Trains are not running on the Severn Beach line near Bristol and First, Wessex and South Gloucestershire bus services are also currently suspended around the city Traffic ground to a halt at Rothwell junction near Kettering (pic: reader James Bishop)
  • Arriva bus services are suspended in Aylesbury, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes and Luton
  • The runways at Birmingham, Luton, East Midlands and Cardiff Wales airports have been closed. Birmingham, Luton and Cardiff, where passengers have been advised to check in as normal, are expected to reopen soon. Flights were cancelled at Belfast City Airport, with planes diverted to Belfast International Airport.
Thousands of pupils will stay at home as schools across the UK closed their doors on Thursday.
Some 550 in Wales have already said that they will shut, while other closures have been reported in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Bristol, Shropshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Solihull, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Norfolk.
Rescuers are preparing to search for two hill walkers reported missing on the Cairngorm Plateau in the Highlands at 2000 GMT on Wednesday. An RAF helicopter along with police and Cairngorms mountain rescue are expected to join the operation.Rescuers are preparing to search for two hill walkers reported missing on the Cairngorm Plateau in the Highlands at 2000 GMT on Wednesday. An RAF helicopter along with police and Cairngorms mountain rescue are expected to join the operation.