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Weather eases for holiday getaway Festive getaway passes 'smoothly'
(about 2 hours 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. The Christmas getaway has passed off "generally smoothly" for motorists as weather improved across much of the UK.
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. The Highways Agency says major roads in England are ice-free but unsalted roads are still dangerous. Despite snow, main routes in Scotland have remained open.
There are delays and cancellations at the UK's major airports. Most airports have stayed open, albeit with delays, while Eurostar has been running a two-thirds service.
The Met Office has issued a warning of heavy snow and widespread ice for Lothian and Borders in Scotland. Heavy snow is forecast for Lothian and Borders in Scotland, while central eastern England could also see sleet.
The Highways Agency, which has lifted roadworks at 44 sites until 3 January, says most major routes in England are clear of ice. However, other roads remain treacherous. BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said the Met Office had issued warnings about ice in many areas.
BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: "There's still a lot of icy, snowy weather around. There's a real risk of danger. "It's looking pretty tricky as we go through the night into Christmas morning," he said.
"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." Drivers were facing foggy conditions in areas including Wiltshire and across the Pennines.
Breakdowns
Breakdown organisations had predicted up to 6m people could take to the roads on Christmas Eve and at one stage the AA was dealing with about 1,400 breakdowns per hour.
The Highways Agency has lifted roadworks at 44 sites until 3 January and a spokeswoman said Christmas Eve had been quieter than Wednesday.
"The roads have been busy but generally it has gone quite smoothly," she said, adding that traffic volumes dipped from about 1600 GMT.
There were reports of congestion on motorways in south-eastern England but no major problems.
Icy conditions caused crashes around the country on Wednesday night
The AA's head of road safety Andrew Howard said it was possible people were waiting until Christmas morning to travel.
He warned that even roads where ice had thawed could be dangerous.
"The trouble is that the salt gets washed away. If it refreezes then you don't have salt on the roads and there's very little you can do about it," he said.
"Even if a road has been salted, it doesn't mean it's safe."
On Wednesday night in Lincolnshire one person was reported killed as black ice caused some 40 crashes, police said.
RAC patrol manager David Hoares added: "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."
Eurostar servicesEurostar 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 passengers with tickets for 19-24 December would be able to travel.The company said any passengers 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. A Eurostar spokeswoman said it was on course to get everyone away for Christmas on Thursday.
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".
Both firms have acknowledged the comments of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, raised after an extraordinary meeting.Both firms have acknowledged the comments of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, raised after an extraordinary meeting.
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 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."
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.
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.
AirportsAirports
Some 300,000 people were expected to travel through the UK's airports on Christmas Eve. Some 300,000 people were travelling through the UK's airports on Christmas Eve.
Travellers at Liverpool Airport, which closed briefly on Wednesday night after a deluge of snow, were experiencing some delays.
There have been delays at most airports, including Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick where staff have had to clear snow and ice from runways.There have been delays at most airports, including Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick where staff have had to clear snow and ice from runways.
EasyJet 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 had to cancel more than 20 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 Passengers queued outside St Pancras Station as services returned 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.
However, passengers on a London to Belfast Aer Lingus flight that should have left Heathrow at 1500 GMT on Wednesday were still waiting to get away at noon on Christmas Eve.However, passengers on a London to Belfast Aer Lingus flight that should have left Heathrow at 1500 GMT on Wednesday were still waiting to get away at noon on Christmas Eve.
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.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 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.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.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.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.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.It will be a very cold night across those areas, with temperatures as low as minus 7C in the Highlands.
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