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Heavy snow causes travel misery Heavy snow causes travel misery
(about 1 hour 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 6in (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 accommodation for stranded drivers.A Royal British Legion club in Worcestershire is offering overnight accommodation for stranded drivers.
The snow storm is moving north-eastwards 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.
The worst affected areas are Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire. The worst affected areas are Herefordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire, though snow also fell in parts of South Yorkshire.
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, Staffordshire, said: "It is almost a whiteout and has been snowing really heavily for hours.
Office worker Sian Mulgrew, from Lichfield, Staffs, said: "It is almost a whiteout and has been snowing really heavily for hours. The snowfall has intensified across west and central parts today, but people further up the country should prepare for it to reach them Sue PowellBBC Weather Centre
"Travel is a nightmare. Drivers travelling in opposite directions are stopping to talk to each other to ask about road conditions.""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.Traffic in Birmingham city centre is at a standstill and several roads in the Malvern area are blocked by jack-knifed lorries.
Birmingham International Airport closed its runway to clear away the snow. But passengers were advised to try to arrive for flights as normal. A 15-mile queue was reported on the M5 near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire during the afternoon.
About 250 cars were abandoned on the A4103, the main road between Hereford and Worcester.
And gritters were stuck in traffic near Kidderminster leaving them unable to spread salt over affected roads.
Birmingham International Airport closed its runway to clear away the snow and flights in and out of the airport were suspended at 1630 GMT - though the runway was due to re-open at 1945 GMT.
Snow causes school closuresSnow causes school closures
A spokeswoman said: "We are working to get things moving as quickly as possible. Once we can get people in the air again there will be some delays.
"It will be up to the airlines themselves to decide if any passengers will be taken to different airports."
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.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.
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. Gloucestershire ambulance crews had to use high performance vehicles to reach people in the Forest of Dean area because the road conditions were so treacherous.
A section of the M1 was shut in Derbyshire on Friday morning after a collision between a car and a van near Mansfield. Sue Powell from the BBC Weather Centre said the snow would hit other parts of the country as Friday progressed.
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. She added: "The north Midlands and the Pennines are next in line.
"The danger is you can't see it," she said. "The snowfall has intensified across west and central parts today, but people further up the country should prepare for it to reach them."
"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."
Sheep in the snow in County DurhamSheep in the snow in County Durham
People should "take extra time and be extra patient" when using all modes of transport on Friday, she said. Forecasters also said plunging temperatures meant surface water on roads would freeze, leading to black ice in many parts of the country.
At least one person died in a crash on the M27 in Hampshire on Thursday, 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.
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, though others followed.
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.
Motorists, air and rail passengers faced delays, and Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather.