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Version 2 | Version 3 |
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Airports closed after heavy snow | Airports closed after heavy snow |
(10 minutes later) | |
Three airports have suspended flights and hundreds of schools have been closed after heavy snowfall across large areas of the north of England | Three airports have suspended flights and hundreds of schools have been closed after heavy snowfall across large areas of the north of England |
Manchester Airport has suspended flights at least until 1200 GMT and there are no flights out of Liverpool John Lennon or Leeds Bradford. | |
Motorists have been warned not to travel unless necessary. | Motorists have been warned not to travel unless necessary. |
The snow is expected to move into the Midlands later with up to up to 10cm (4ins) predicted in places. | The snow is expected to move into the Midlands later with up to up to 10cm (4ins) predicted in places. |
Avoid areas | Avoid areas |
Air passengers have been urged to check their flight status with the airline. | Air passengers have been urged to check their flight status with the airline. |
Bus operator Stagecoach said it had suspended many of its services across Greater Manchester because of the conditions, but was trying to operate on main routes into the city. | Bus operator Stagecoach said it had suspended many of its services across Greater Manchester because of the conditions, but was trying to operate on main routes into the city. |
Roads in higher ground in Greater Manchester have been described as "poor" in some areas. | Roads in higher ground in Greater Manchester have been described as "poor" in some areas. |
A police spokesman said: "Our advice is if you don't have to travel today - please don't. | A police spokesman said: "Our advice is if you don't have to travel today - please don't. |
Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor Police spokesman | Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor Police spokesman |
"In Oldham and Rochdale - particularly higher ground areas - the snowfall has been really quite heavy. | "In Oldham and Rochdale - particularly higher ground areas - the snowfall has been really quite heavy. |
"Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor. If you can avoid these areas please do." | "Gritters have tried to open those roads up and, I'll be honest with you, they are really, really poor. If you can avoid these areas please do." |
Greater Manchester Police also urged the public to only call 999 in an emergency, where there was a threat to life or a crime in progress. | |
Supt Karan Lee said: "I would like to reassure the public that we will attend all emergencies however our response vehicles could also be hindered by the adverse weather conditions and it may take us a little longer to get you." | |
Elsewhere in the country 10 train services between London and Leeds on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled. | Elsewhere in the country 10 train services between London and Leeds on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled. |
Budget airline easyJet has cancelled eight flights into and out of the UK at its operations at Manchester and Luton airports. | |
Roads closed | Roads closed |
More than 100 schools have been closed in Greater Manchester and a similar number in Lancashire. In Merseyside and Cheshire, about 15 schools were closed. | |
In Cumbria, about 20 schools have been closed and 33 have been closed across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. | In Cumbria, about 20 schools have been closed and 33 have been closed across Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. |
The Highways Agency also said the A66 in Cumbria is closed both ways between the junctions with the A1 and A685. | The Highways Agency also said the A66 in Cumbria is closed both ways between the junctions with the A1 and A685. |
A number of lanes were closed on parts of the M6 and M60 in Greater Manchester after a number of lorries jack-knifed. The M58 was shut completely because of snow on the carriageways. | |
Some roads in higher remote areas of Oldham and Rochdale have been described as impassable. | |
The Highways Agency said continuous salt treatment was being undertaken on the motorway network in high risk areas. | The Highways Agency said continuous salt treatment was being undertaken on the motorway network in high risk areas. |
Spokeswoman Jenny Hart said there were "very difficult" driving conditions on many roads and urged motorists to avoid travel wherever possible. | |
"Despite constant gritting we have accumulations of snow on the carriageways but our snow ploughs have been out through the night," she said. |