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Heavy snow causes travel misery Heavy snow causes travel misery
(10 minutes later)
Heavy snow falls are causing travel chaos for thousands of commuters across large parts of England.Heavy snow falls are causing travel chaos for thousands of commuters across large parts of England.
Up to 6ins (15cm) of snow has fallen in the Midlands leaving rush hour drivers caught in road gridlock. There are also serious rail delays. Up to 6in (15cm) of snow has fallen in the Midlands leaving rush hour drivers caught in road gridlock. There are also serious rail delays.
A Royal British Legion club in Worcestershire is offering overnight accomodation for stranded drivers. A Royal British Legion club in Worcestershire is offering overnight accommodation for stranded drivers.
The snow storm is moving northeastwards and people are being urged not to travel unless essential. The snow storm is moving north-eastwards and people are being urged not to travel unless essential.
Hundreds of schools have been closed, while many people left work early because of fears road conditions would get worse as the day progressed. The worst affected areas are Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
Traffic information company Trafficmaster said reported incidents on Friday morning were well below average, and the volume of traffic was very low. Travel is a nightmare... drivers travelling in opposite directions are stopping to talk to each other to ask about road conditions Sian Mulgrew
Office worker Sian Mulgrew, from Lichfield, Staffs, said: "It is almost a whiteout and has been snowing really heavily for hours.
"Travel is a nightmare. Drivers travelling in opposite directions are stopping to talk to each other to ask about road conditions."
Traffic in Birmingham city centre is at a standstill and several roads in the Malvern area are blocked by jack-knifed lorries.
Hundreds of schools were closed for the day, while many people left work early because of fears road conditions would get worse as the day progressed.
Snow causes school closuresSnow causes school closures
At least one person died in a crash on the M27 in Hampshire on Thursday evening, although it was unclear if the weather had been a contributory factor.At least one person died in a crash on the M27 in Hampshire on Thursday evening, although it was unclear if the weather had been a contributory factor.
A section of the M1 was shut in Derbyshire on Friday morning after a collision between a car and a van near Mansfield.A section of the M1 was shut in Derbyshire on Friday morning after a collision between a car and a van near Mansfield.
Rail companies hoped to run normal services on Friday, although points could freeze leading to delays.
Airports are also expected to return to normal, but travellers are being warned to take extra time because of a possible backlog.
The BBC's Sally Nugent said plunging temperatures meant surface water on roads would freeze, leading to black ice in may parts of the country.The BBC's Sally Nugent said plunging temperatures meant surface water on roads would freeze, leading to black ice in may parts of the country.
"The danger is you can't see it," she said."The danger is you can't see it," she said.
"Drive very slowly even if you think the roads look clear and keep plenty of distance between yourself and the car in front of you.""Drive very slowly even if you think the roads look clear and keep plenty of distance between yourself and the car in front of you."
Snow near the Angel of the North statue near GatesheadSnow near the Angel of the North statue near Gateshead
People should "take extra time and be extra patient" when using all modes of transport on Friday, she said.People should "take extra time and be extra patient" when using all modes of transport on Friday, she said.
More snow has been predicted for Saturday in central and northern England.More snow has been predicted for Saturday in central and northern England.
Luton Town's match against Norwich City became the first of Saturday's football fixtures to be called off due to the weather.Luton Town's match against Norwich City became the first of Saturday's football fixtures to be called off due to the weather.
Friday's horse racing meeting at Wolverhampton, which began before heavy snow started to fall again in the West Midlands was abandoned after three races.Friday's horse racing meeting at Wolverhampton, which began before heavy snow started to fall again in the West Midlands was abandoned after three races.
Disruption caused by a thick blanket of snow on Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds.Disruption caused by a thick blanket of snow on Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
Motorists, air and rail passengers faced delays, and Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather.Motorists, air and rail passengers faced delays, and Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather.