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| Commuters hit by snow disruption | Commuters hit by snow disruption |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Commuters are experiencing travel disruption as heavy snow falls across much of the UK, with south-east and north-east England worst affected. | Commuters are experiencing travel disruption as heavy snow falls across much of the UK, with south-east and north-east England worst affected. |
| The Met Office issued severe warnings for heavy snowfall in those two areas, London and the East Midlands. | The Met Office issued severe warnings for heavy snowfall in those two areas, London and the East Midlands. |
| Up to 20cm (8in) has already fallen in counties including Kent, Essex and Sussex and more is to come on Friday. | Up to 20cm (8in) has already fallen in counties including Kent, Essex and Sussex and more is to come on Friday. |
| About 200 drivers on the M20 and M2 in Kent were stuck in tailbacks overnight and flights have also been cancelled. | About 200 drivers on the M20 and M2 in Kent were stuck in tailbacks overnight and flights have also been cancelled. |
| 'Horrendous' | 'Horrendous' |
| Essex Police dealt with more than 180 weather-related incidents during the night, including more than 20 road collisions. | Essex Police dealt with more than 180 weather-related incidents during the night, including more than 20 road collisions. |
| ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essentialCheck local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spadeDrive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency BBC Travel Your pictures: UK snowfall | ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essentialCheck local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spadeDrive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency BBC Travel Your pictures: UK snowfall |
| Suffolk Police say it has been an "horrendous night". They have dealt with 230 incidents after up to 15cm (6in) of snow fell in the county, and dozens of drivers were forced to spend the night in their cars. | Suffolk Police say it has been an "horrendous night". They have dealt with 230 incidents after up to 15cm (6in) of snow fell in the county, and dozens of drivers were forced to spend the night in their cars. |
| Hertfordshire Police had more than 400 emergency calls through the night. | Hertfordshire Police had more than 400 emergency calls through the night. |
| Conditions are expected to be at their worst in much of the UK during the Friday morning rush hour. | Conditions are expected to be at their worst in much of the UK during the Friday morning rush hour. |
| Scores of jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars litter the roads in the worst affected areas. Thousands of children are starting their Christmas holidays a day early as schools in many counties have been forced to close. | Scores of jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars litter the roads in the worst affected areas. Thousands of children are starting their Christmas holidays a day early as schools in many counties have been forced to close. |
| More than 350 schools have shut in Kent, the same number in Hertfordshire and more than 200 in Suffolk. | More than 350 schools have shut in Kent, the same number in Hertfordshire and more than 200 in Suffolk. |
| Energy company EDF say electricity supplies have been cut off in parts of south-east and east England. | Energy company EDF say electricity supplies have been cut off in parts of south-east and east England. |
| The worst affected areas in the east include Cambridge, King's Lynn and Ipswich, and the firm said its engineers' efforts to restore power were being hampered by the bad weather. | The worst affected areas in the east include Cambridge, King's Lynn and Ipswich, and the firm said its engineers' efforts to restore power were being hampered by the bad weather. |
| Specific problems include: | Specific problems include: |
| • Flights are still suspended from London Luton and London City. Gatwick is not accepting inbound flights and Heathrow is experiencing some delays and cancellations | • Flights are still suspended from London Luton and London City. Gatwick is not accepting inbound flights and Heathrow is experiencing some delays and cancellations |
| • National Rail Enquiries has warned of disruption to train services on Friday, particularly in east and south-east England | • National Rail Enquiries has warned of disruption to train services on Friday, particularly in east and south-east England |
| • Between 30 to 40 cars are trapped behind two lorries, stuck on the A166 in East Yorkshire | |
| • The A1081, which is the main road connecting Luton Airport to the M1, was gridlocked in the early hours of Friday due to the large number of jack-knifed vehicles | • The A1081, which is the main road connecting Luton Airport to the M1, was gridlocked in the early hours of Friday due to the large number of jack-knifed vehicles |
| • Sections of the M40 are closed | • Sections of the M40 are closed |
| • Friday's National Hunt meeting at Ascot has been abandoned due to snow | • Friday's National Hunt meeting at Ascot has been abandoned due to snow |
| UK WEATHER WARNINGS For more information, visit BBC Weather | UK WEATHER WARNINGS For more information, visit BBC Weather |
| Driving winds and sub-zero temperatures brought blizzard conditions to much of the UK late on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday. | Driving winds and sub-zero temperatures brought blizzard conditions to much of the UK late on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday. |
| The Met Office said the heaviest snowfall overnight was in Norfolk, Bedford and Buckinghamshire. | The Met Office said the heaviest snowfall overnight was in Norfolk, Bedford and Buckinghamshire. |
| BBC Weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We have already seen snow arriving across south-east and north-east England." | BBC Weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We have already seen snow arriving across south-east and north-east England." |
| She said the worst affected areas in south-east England were Greater London, Medway and parts of Kent, which are seeing "extremely heavy snowfall". | She said the worst affected areas in south-east England were Greater London, Medway and parts of Kent, which are seeing "extremely heavy snowfall". |
| TV presenter Davina McCall was among those stuck on the A21 in Kent for three hours after a lorry blocked the road. | TV presenter Davina McCall was among those stuck on the A21 in Kent for three hours after a lorry blocked the road. |
| She told BBC Radio 5Live: "We got wedged in a whole series of cars and it was pelting down with snow." | She told BBC Radio 5Live: "We got wedged in a whole series of cars and it was pelting down with snow." |
| Met Office severe warnings for heavy snow have also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber. | Met Office severe warnings for heavy snow have also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber. |
| Up to 20cm (8in) has fallen in some parts of North Yorkshire but there have been no reports of traffic problems. | Up to 20cm (8in) has fallen in some parts of North Yorkshire but there have been no reports of traffic problems. |
| White Christmas? | White Christmas? |
| Snow also fell in parts of the Brecon area of mid Wales and in the Neath area of south Wales. | Snow also fell in parts of the Brecon area of mid Wales and in the Neath area of south Wales. |
| Conditions in the south east of the country are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday. | Conditions in the south east of the country are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday. |
| The Met Office says there is a moderate risk of heavy snow in north and western Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and northern Wales on Sunday. | The Met Office says there is a moderate risk of heavy snow in north and western Scotland, Northern Ireland, north-west England and northern Wales on Sunday. |
| However, it said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas. | However, it said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas. |
| A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call." | A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call." |
| Road salt | Road salt |
| The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the south-east, and was able to treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts. | The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the south-east, and was able to treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts. |
| A spokesman told the BBC that road users had to "play their part" and "drive appropriately". | A spokesman told the BBC that road users had to "play their part" and "drive appropriately". |
| "We are asking drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions," he said. | "We are asking drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions," he said. |
| Earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing. | Earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing. |
| It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association. | It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association. |
| Have you been affected by the snowy conditions? Let us know using the form below. You can also send in your snow pictures and video. | Have you been affected by the snowy conditions? Let us know using the form below. You can also send in your snow pictures and video. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions. |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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