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Snow and ice 'should be cleared with the public's help' Snow and ice 'should be cleared with the public's help'
(40 minutes later)
The public should clear icy side roads and pavements not treated by councils, the transport secretary has suggested.The public should clear icy side roads and pavements not treated by councils, the transport secretary has suggested.
After another freezing night prompted Met Office warnings of icy roads across much of Britain, Philip Hammond said people should help neighbours.After another freezing night prompted Met Office warnings of icy roads across much of Britain, Philip Hammond said people should help neighbours.
The Army may clear Edinburgh's streets as Scotland remains gripped by sub-zero conditions. Many cars remain stranded.The Army may clear Edinburgh's streets as Scotland remains gripped by sub-zero conditions. Many cars remain stranded.
Overnight temperatures hit -18C (0F) in Perthshire and more than 1,000 UK schools remain closed. Overnight temperatures in Strathallan, Perthshire, and Shap, Cumbria, hit -18C (0F). Some 1,000 UK schools are shut.
It was another cold night in all parts of the UK, with lows of -16C (3.2F) in Shap, Cumbria, -12C (10.4F) in Castlederg, Tyrone, -9C (15.8F) in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion. It was another cold night in all parts of the UK, with lows of -12C (10.4F) in Castlederg, Tyrone, and -9C (15.8F) in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion.
Severe weather warnings for heavy snow remain in place for the far north of Scotland, with icy road alerts affecting all Scottish regions, Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber.Severe weather warnings for heavy snow remain in place for the far north of Scotland, with icy road alerts affecting all Scottish regions, Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber.
BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said temperatures would again struggle to get above freezing in many places.BBC weather forecaster Nick Miller said temperatures would again struggle to get above freezing in many places.
Problems persist on the roads, particularly in Scotland's central belt where Transport Scotland is again advising against all but "absolutely essential" travelProblems persist on the roads, particularly in Scotland's central belt where Transport Scotland is again advising against all but "absolutely essential" travel
  • The westbound M8 remains closed between Edinburgh and Harthill
  • The A171 near Whitby, North Yorks, is "passable with care" after more than 100 vehicles had to be rescued by police and snow ploughs
  • On the railways, there are widespread cancellations throughout Scotland with Glasgow-Edinburgh shuttles off because cold air was causing braking systems to fail
  • East Coast is operating reduced services, while some local services in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and north-east England have been cancelled
  • Travellers at airports including Glasgow and Edinburgh and Belfast International are advised to check flight times with airlines
  • All schools are closed in Glasgow, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire
  • Hundreds are closed in Northern Ireland, along with about 40 in the north of England
  • The westbound M8 remains closed between Edinburgh and Harthill
  • The A171 near Whitby, North Yorks, is "passable with care" after more than 100 vehicles had to be rescued by police and snow ploughs
  • On the railways, there are widespread cancellations throughout Scotland with Glasgow-Edinburgh shuttles off because cold air was causing braking systems to fail
  • East Coast is operating reduced services, while some local services in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and north-east England have been cancelled
  • Travellers at airports including Glasgow and Edinburgh and Belfast International are advised to check flight times with airlines
  • All schools are closed in Glasgow, Inverclyde, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire
  • Hundreds are closed in Northern Ireland, along with about 40 in the north of England
  • Snow and frost have forced the abandonment of Friday and Saturday's race meetings at Doncaster
    •
Mr Hammond said councils had to make choices about which roads to grit but could provide salt to allow the public to clear residential streets.Mr Hammond said councils had to make choices about which roads to grit but could provide salt to allow the public to clear residential streets.
"In many cases people would like to have the opportunity to have access to grit and salt supplies so that on roads that are not on the council's gritting route they can... make the pavements a bit easier, make it a bit easier for them to get out of their driveways," he told BBC Breakfast."In many cases people would like to have the opportunity to have access to grit and salt supplies so that on roads that are not on the council's gritting route they can... make the pavements a bit easier, make it a bit easier for them to get out of their driveways," he told BBC Breakfast.
"People have always dug their way out of their own driveways... and I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to.""People have always dug their way out of their own driveways... and I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to."
He said the government had recently put together a "common sense" code of practice which, if followed, should protect the public from legal action as a result of attempting to clear snow.He said the government had recently put together a "common sense" code of practice which, if followed, should protect the public from legal action as a result of attempting to clear snow.
'Extraordinary circumstances''Extraordinary circumstances'
However, he said there was no need in England for the Army to be called in because councils were still able to call contractors if they needed help clearing roads.However, he said there was no need in England for the Army to be called in because councils were still able to call contractors if they needed help clearing roads.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Army had helped emergency services on Monday and that Edinburgh Council had requested personnel help clear roads.Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Army had helped emergency services on Monday and that Edinburgh Council had requested personnel help clear roads.
Voluntary groups and offenders serving community sentences were already helping out, he said.Voluntary groups and offenders serving community sentences were already helping out, he said.
"You would expect us in extraordinary circumstances... to use every facility to help people," he added."You would expect us in extraordinary circumstances... to use every facility to help people," he added.
Andrew Bland is one of hundred of drivers who became stranded on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh on Monday, as he tried to return in his truck to Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, having made a delivery.Andrew Bland is one of hundred of drivers who became stranded on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh on Monday, as he tried to return in his truck to Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, having made a delivery.
After two nights, he remains stuck at a service station.After two nights, he remains stuck at a service station.
"You've just got to make the best of it as you can. You cannot do much and we're just hoping that the gritters can sort the problem out so we can get on our way," he said."You've just got to make the best of it as you can. You cannot do much and we're just hoping that the gritters can sort the problem out so we can get on our way," he said.
Scotland's Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has apologised for the situation and is expected to make a statement to MSPs later.Scotland's Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has apologised for the situation and is expected to make a statement to MSPs later.
Police have said people who had abandoned vehicles should not return to them unless advised to do so.Police have said people who had abandoned vehicles should not return to them unless advised to do so.
Some vehicles have been removed already and officers are contacting owners to tell them how to get them back.Some vehicles have been removed already and officers are contacting owners to tell them how to get them back.
The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents since the first widespread snow on 24 November - a 93% increase on the same period last year.The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents since the first widespread snow on 24 November - a 93% increase on the same period last year.
The RAC said breakdowns were there were 50% more call-outs than normal.The RAC said breakdowns were there were 50% more call-outs than normal.
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
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More details from BBC Weather

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More details from BBC Weather
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