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| Heavy snow leads to travel chaos | Heavy snow leads to travel chaos |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Heavy snow which fell in parts of east and south Kent earlier continues to cause travel disruption. | |
| Kent Police said Operation Stack was in place, which involves parking lorries destined for the continent on the M20. | Kent Police said Operation Stack was in place, which involves parking lorries destined for the continent on the M20. |
| The move was necessary, they said, because of large amounts of traffic building up on the approaches to the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel. | The move was necessary, they said, because of large amounts of traffic building up on the approaches to the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel. |
| The weather also continues to cause problems for motorists using coastal routes, while rail users face delays. | The weather also continues to cause problems for motorists using coastal routes, while rail users face delays. |
| Southeastern trains between Ramsgate and Ashford International were delayed for up to 40 minutes because of the snow, as were trains between Faversham and Dover Priory and between Canterbury West and Ashford International. | Southeastern trains between Ramsgate and Ashford International were delayed for up to 40 minutes because of the snow, as were trains between Faversham and Dover Priory and between Canterbury West and Ashford International. |
| Eurotunnel shuttle services resumed a limited service, following a snow-clearance operation in Folkestone. | Eurotunnel shuttle services resumed a limited service, following a snow-clearance operation in Folkestone. |
| On Eurostar, an earlier signalling problem in Kent continued to cause delays. | On Eurostar, an earlier signalling problem in Kent continued to cause delays. |
| Strong winds | Strong winds |
| Police said phase one of Operation Stack had been implemented, which involves the closure of the M20 coastbound carriageway between junction 11, the Hythe turn-off, and junction 12, the Cheriton turn-off at Folkestone. | Police said phase one of Operation Stack had been implemented, which involves the closure of the M20 coastbound carriageway between junction 11, the Hythe turn-off, and junction 12, the Cheriton turn-off at Folkestone. |
| MORE SNOW HITS ENGLAND Blanket of snow across East Sussex Further snow forecast for Norfolk | MORE SNOW HITS ENGLAND Blanket of snow across East Sussex Further snow forecast for Norfolk |
| All coastbound traffic is being forced to leave the motorway at junction 11. Lorries are allowed back down on the motorway where they park between the two junctions. All other traffic is being diverted on to the A20. | All coastbound traffic is being forced to leave the motorway at junction 11. Lorries are allowed back down on the motorway where they park between the two junctions. All other traffic is being diverted on to the A20. |
| Up to 15cm (6in) of snow fell overnight in some areas and strong winds caused drifting in places. | Up to 15cm (6in) of snow fell overnight in some areas and strong winds caused drifting in places. |
| More than 160 schools in the area between Margate and south of Ashford closed for the day. | More than 160 schools in the area between Margate and south of Ashford closed for the day. |
| The pharmaceutical firm Pfizer's research and development site in Sandwich is also shut, affecting 2,500 members of staff. | The pharmaceutical firm Pfizer's research and development site in Sandwich is also shut, affecting 2,500 members of staff. |
| And engineers have been trying to restore power to residents and businesses in the Deal area after the electricity went off in the early hours. | And engineers have been trying to restore power to residents and businesses in the Deal area after the electricity went off in the early hours. |
| The snow started falling in Kent and East Sussex on Wednesday evening, with many drivers taking hours to get home. | The snow started falling in Kent and East Sussex on Wednesday evening, with many drivers taking hours to get home. |
| Dover's coastguard was called on to help dig out a stranded ambulance in the town. | Dover's coastguard was called on to help dig out a stranded ambulance in the town. |
| A spokesman said four of its 4x4 vehicles were helping to transfer staff and patients to and from hospitals in Eastbourne and Hastings. | A spokesman said four of its 4x4 vehicles were helping to transfer staff and patients to and from hospitals in Eastbourne and Hastings. |
| Carly Morris describes conditions in the Dover area | Carly Morris describes conditions in the Dover area |
| Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it had received "a few" calls from motorists stuck in snow drifts in parts of the county including Margate and Lydd. | Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it had received "a few" calls from motorists stuck in snow drifts in parts of the county including Margate and Lydd. |
| Kent County Council said all primary routes and secondary routes where possible had been gritted on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the snow showers. | Kent County Council said all primary routes and secondary routes where possible had been gritted on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the snow showers. |
| Ch Insp Simon Black, of Kent Police, said all main routes in the county were "passable with care" but some were down to a single lane. | Ch Insp Simon Black, of Kent Police, said all main routes in the county were "passable with care" but some were down to a single lane. |
| He told BBC Radio Kent that drivers should only journey out in the south and east of the county if absolutely necessary. | He told BBC Radio Kent that drivers should only journey out in the south and east of the county if absolutely necessary. |
| Cross-channel sailings from Dover's eastern docks with P&O Ferries and SeaFrance to Calais, Norfolkline to Dunkirk and LD Lines to Boulogne are running normally, with space available on all services. | Cross-channel sailings from Dover's eastern docks with P&O Ferries and SeaFrance to Calais, Norfolkline to Dunkirk and LD Lines to Boulogne are running normally, with space available on all services. |
| However, a Port of Dover spokesman advised passengers to allow extra time due to the severe weather conditions in the Dover area. | However, a Port of Dover spokesman advised passengers to allow extra time due to the severe weather conditions in the Dover area. |
| Have you been affected by the snow? Have you experienced delays or cancellations to your journeys? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by the snow? Have you experienced delays or cancellations to your journeys? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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