This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8429346.stm
The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Next version
| Version 27 | Version 28 |
|---|---|
| Weather eases for holiday getaway | Weather eases for holiday getaway |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Millions are facing their final chance to get away for Christmas, with conditions easing in most areas but fresh warnings of ice in Scotland. | Millions are facing their final chance to get away for Christmas, with conditions easing in most areas but fresh warnings of ice in Scotland. |
| It is expected to be the busiest day of the year on the UK's roads, as motorists who delayed journeys due to bad weather finally set out. | It is expected to be the busiest day of the year on the UK's roads, as motorists who delayed journeys due to bad weather finally set out. |
| There are delays and cancellations at the UK's major airports. | There are delays and cancellations at the UK's major airports. |
| The Met Office has issued a warning of heavy snow and widespread ice for Lothian and Borders in Scotland. | The Met Office has issued a warning of heavy snow and widespread ice for Lothian and Borders in Scotland. |
| The Highways Agency says most major routes in England are clear of ice, although other roads remain treacherous. | The Highways Agency says most major routes in England are clear of ice, although other roads remain treacherous. |
| BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: "There's still a lot of icy, snowy weather around. There's a real risk of danger. | |
| "Some of this stuff has melted through the course of the morning and into the afternoon but later on it will just start to refreeze." | "Some of this stuff has melted through the course of the morning and into the afternoon but later on it will just start to refreeze." |
| Eurostar services | Eurostar services |
| Eurostar was running about a two-thirds service on Christmas Eve, after suspending services on Saturday, Sunday and Monday following train breakdowns. | Eurostar was running about a two-thirds service on Christmas Eve, after suspending services on Saturday, Sunday and Monday following train breakdowns. |
| The company said any passenger with tickets for 19-24 December would be able to travel. | The company said any passenger with tickets for 19-24 December would be able to travel. |
| "We're hoping to get everyone away for Christmas today," said a Eurostar spokeswoman. | "We're hoping to get everyone away for Christmas today," said a Eurostar spokeswoman. |
| Meanwhile the Anglo-French supervisory body has criticised the set-up of Eurostar and Eurotunnel for failing to "meet the information needs of passengers". | Meanwhile the Anglo-French supervisory body has criticised the set-up of Eurostar and Eurotunnel for failing to "meet the information needs of passengers". |
| Eurotunnel has acknowledged the concerns of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, raised after an extraordinary meeting. | Eurotunnel has acknowledged the concerns of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, raised after an extraordinary meeting. |
| Up to 5cm of snow is expected in Scotland | Up to 5cm of snow is expected in Scotland |
| The M1 has reopened after being closed southbound at junction 18, Watford Gap services, due to an overturned lorry. | The M1 has reopened after being closed southbound at junction 18, Watford Gap services, due to an overturned lorry. |
| The AA said it expected 12m motorists, almost a third of the nation's cars, to travel to a Christmas destination but it said this has been spread over a few days due to the weather. | The AA said it expected 12m motorists, almost a third of the nation's cars, to travel to a Christmas destination but it said this has been spread over a few days due to the weather. |
| Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said: "Don't be afraid to delay your journey. Christmas can always be rolled back a day. Think safety before obligation." | Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said: "Don't be afraid to delay your journey. Christmas can always be rolled back a day. Think safety before obligation." |
| The AA said it had been at its busiest for over two decades, attending around 18,000 breakdowns on Wednesday. | The AA said it had been at its busiest for over two decades, attending around 18,000 breakdowns on Wednesday. |
| The RAC said because people had been waiting for weather to clear, Thursday could be one of the busiest of the year, with delays expected. | The RAC said because people had been waiting for weather to clear, Thursday could be one of the busiest of the year, with delays expected. |
| RAC patrol manager David Hoares said: "You really must check your local weather and the traffic situation where you live and where your journey is going to before you decide whether you have to travel." | RAC patrol manager David Hoares said: "You really must check your local weather and the traffic situation where you live and where your journey is going to before you decide whether you have to travel." |
| On Wednesday night, in Lincolnshire one person was reported killed as black ice caused some 40 crashes, police said. | On Wednesday night, in Lincolnshire one person was reported killed as black ice caused some 40 crashes, police said. |
| Airports | Airports |
| Some 300,000 people are expected to travel through the UK's airports on Christmas Eve. | Some 300,000 people are expected to travel through the UK's airports on Christmas Eve. |
| Liverpool Airport reopened on Wednesday night after a deluge of snow forced it to close briefly, with travellers warned to expect delays. | Liverpool Airport reopened on Wednesday night after a deluge of snow forced it to close briefly, with travellers warned to expect delays. |
| Delays are also expected at Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick airports - where staff have had to clear snow and ice from runways. | Delays are also expected at Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick airports - where staff have had to clear snow and ice from runways. |
| EasyJet has had to cancel 16 Thursday flights, while British Airways said the majority of its flights were operating normally but warned passengers to check before setting off for the airport. | EasyJet has had to cancel 16 Thursday flights, while British Airways said the majority of its flights were operating normally but warned passengers to check before setting off for the airport. |
| Gatwick said it was operating normally but warned of minor delays. | Gatwick said it was operating normally but warned of minor delays. |
| Eurostar services from St Pancras are almost back to normal | Eurostar services from St Pancras are almost back to normal |
| British Airways said its services were running normally at Heathrow, with the airport expected to handle around 144,000 passengers on Thursday. | British Airways said its services were running normally at Heathrow, with the airport expected to handle around 144,000 passengers on Thursday. |
| There are some delays and cancellations at Stansted airport in Essex, where 34,000 people are passing through. | There are some delays and cancellations at Stansted airport in Essex, where 34,000 people are passing through. |
| On Wednesday a Ryanair jet with 129 people on board skidded off the runway at Prestwick after hitting a patch of ice. No-one was hurt. | On Wednesday a Ryanair jet with 129 people on board skidded off the runway at Prestwick after hitting a patch of ice. No-one was hurt. |
| On the trains, Scotrail says services are restricted between Glasgow Central station and Ayr, Largs, Ardrossan, Gourock and Wemyss Bay. | |
| The weather has wreaked havoc with the sporting calendar. | |
| The National Hunt Boxing Day meeting at Towcester has already been called off, with meetings at Sedgefield, Wetherby, Market Rasen and Huntingdon facing late inspections. | |
| Meanwhile, all but two of the Scottish Football League's Saturday fixtures have been postponed. | |
| Prospects of a white Christmas have receded for most of the UK. | |
| However, parts of Northern Ireland, the lowlands and southern uplands of Scotland and the far north of England could see light snow showers on Friday. | |
| It will be a very cold night across those areas, with temperatures as low as minus 7C in the Highlands. | |
| Javascript and Flash plug-in requiredEither the Flash plugin was not detected on your computer or the JavaScript features of your brower have been disabled.To enable Javascript on your browser we recommend that you contact your computer support line.Download the Flash plugin from the Adobe website | Javascript and Flash plug-in requiredEither the Flash plugin was not detected on your computer or the JavaScript features of your brower have been disabled.To enable Javascript on your browser we recommend that you contact your computer support line.Download the Flash plugin from the Adobe website |
| For more travel information please visit the BBC Travel website. | For more travel information please visit the BBC Travel website. |
| Have you been affected by the winter weather? Send us your stories, pictures and video. | Have you been affected by the winter weather? Send us your stories, pictures and video. |
| Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |