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Heavy snow and ice brings travel chaos across UK Heavy snow and ice brings travel chaos across UK
(40 minutes later)
Christmas travellers are facing further transport chaos as heavy snow falls across many parts of the UK.Christmas travellers are facing further transport chaos as heavy snow falls across many parts of the UK.
Hundreds of drivers spent much of the night stuck on the M6 in Greater Manchester, amid disruption on the roads, railways and airports.Hundreds of drivers spent much of the night stuck on the M6 in Greater Manchester, amid disruption on the roads, railways and airports.
Gatwick Airport shut its runway until 1500 GMT as snow blew in, and British Airways cancelled all flights out of Heathrow from 1000 GMT to 1700 GMT. Gatwick Airport shut its runway until 1500 GMT, and British Airways cancelled all Heathrow flights until 1700 GMT.
A host of weekend sporting fixtures were cancelled as temperatures plunged. Heavy snow warnings are in place across the UK, with "very heavy" alerts for London, the Home Counties and Surrey.
BA advised all passengers on BA flights during times affected not to travel to Heathrow on Saturday, and warned of severe disruption at all London airports.BA advised all passengers on BA flights during times affected not to travel to Heathrow on Saturday, and warned of severe disruption at all London airports.
'Mayhem''Mayhem'
There was also disruption at Exeter, London City, Aberdeen, Bristol and Cardiff airports.There was also disruption at Exeter, London City, Aberdeen, Bristol and Cardiff airports.
Problems were reported on the M61, M58 and M57 overnight, with police advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.Problems were reported on the M61, M58 and M57 overnight, with police advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Commuter Stephen Derbyshire, who was stranded on the M6 for five hours, told BBC Radio 5 live: "It is absolute mayhem."Commuter Stephen Derbyshire, who was stranded on the M6 for five hours, told BBC Radio 5 live: "It is absolute mayhem."
The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.
In Wales, staff at several hospitals have been struggling to get into work, with two health boards appealing for medical staff to help out over the weekend.In Wales, staff at several hospitals have been struggling to get into work, with two health boards appealing for medical staff to help out over the weekend.
Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale said they needed help running the Royal Glamorgan, Prince Charles, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough hospitals.Cwm Taf and Cardiff and Vale said they needed help running the Royal Glamorgan, Prince Charles, University Hospital of Wales and Llandough hospitals.
Several roads across the country remain closed and bus services between Carmarthen and Cardiff and other areas have also been disrupted.Several roads across the country remain closed and bus services between Carmarthen and Cardiff and other areas have also been disrupted.
What's the weather in your area?Source: BBC WeatherWhat's the weather in your area?Source: BBC Weather
Whilst in Northern Ireland freezing conditions continue to make travel difficult following some of the heaviest snowfall for 25 years - with more forecast.Whilst in Northern Ireland freezing conditions continue to make travel difficult following some of the heaviest snowfall for 25 years - with more forecast.
Belfast International Airport has reopened, although delays and cancellations are expected, and Belfast City Airport has reopened for the "forseeable future".Belfast International Airport has reopened, although delays and cancellations are expected, and Belfast City Airport has reopened for the "forseeable future".
The Northern Ireland Roads Service said slush from Friday had re-frozen overnight and Christmas shoppers should think carefully before setting out by car.The Northern Ireland Roads Service said slush from Friday had re-frozen overnight and Christmas shoppers should think carefully before setting out by car.
Jon Caudwell, from the Highways Agency, said they were doing their best to keep major roads in England clear but needed help from motorists.Jon Caudwell, from the Highways Agency, said they were doing their best to keep major roads in England clear but needed help from motorists.
He told 5 live: "We've obviously got more and more snow coming, so we're really going to have to work very, very hard.He told 5 live: "We've obviously got more and more snow coming, so we're really going to have to work very, very hard.
"We are asking the public to really seriously consider whether they do need to come out in these conditions and if they do come out in these conditions they really must take extra care.""We are asking the public to really seriously consider whether they do need to come out in these conditions and if they do come out in these conditions they really must take extra care."
Lincolnshire County Council said it had already used about 60% of its grit stocks despite starting the winter with 31,600 tonnes - 8,000 more than usual.Lincolnshire County Council said it had already used about 60% of its grit stocks despite starting the winter with 31,600 tonnes - 8,000 more than usual.
BA spokesman Phillip Allport said the airline was the biggest at Heathrow and even a short closure of an hour or two at short notice would be chaotic for passengers.BA spokesman Phillip Allport said the airline was the biggest at Heathrow and even a short closure of an hour or two at short notice would be chaotic for passengers.
"Thousands of people would be inconvenienced because BA runs so many flights. A smaller airline can take a chance on the weather not behaving as forecast - BA can't," he said."Thousands of people would be inconvenienced because BA runs so many flights. A smaller airline can take a chance on the weather not behaving as forecast - BA can't," he said.
Passenger Jade Price, whose BA flight to the US capital Washington DC was amongst those cancelled, said Heathrow's Terminal 5 was "absolute chaos".Passenger Jade Price, whose BA flight to the US capital Washington DC was amongst those cancelled, said Heathrow's Terminal 5 was "absolute chaos".
The mother-of-two, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, told the BBC: "We sat on the tarmac with our two small children for four hours with no food before being told that we would not fly because the queue for de-icing was too long.The mother-of-two, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, told the BBC: "We sat on the tarmac with our two small children for four hours with no food before being told that we would not fly because the queue for de-icing was too long.
'Heartbreaking''Heartbreaking'
"Terminal 5 was absolute chaos. All luggage was lost - with no information about how or when it would be returned to us - and people were not given food, travel, or hotel vouchers..."Terminal 5 was absolute chaos. All luggage was lost - with no information about how or when it would be returned to us - and people were not given food, travel, or hotel vouchers...
"The disappointment on my four-year-old son's face when he found out that we we wouldn't get to see his grandparents was heartbreaking.""The disappointment on my four-year-old son's face when he found out that we we wouldn't get to see his grandparents was heartbreaking."
Other problems caused by the weather include:Other problems caused by the weather include:
  • Rail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled some services on Saturday
  • A number of weekend football fixtures have been cancelled and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock was abandoned
  • A cannabis factory in Leicester has been exposed by the wintry weather because heat lamps inside melted the snow on its roof
  • An urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running low
  • Companies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before Christmas
  • Transport secretary Philip Hammond says distributors of heating oil are hoping to clear their delivery backlog in the next few days, following fears it may need to be rationed
  • Rail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled some services on Saturday
  • A number of weekend football fixtures have been cancelled and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock was abandoned
  • A cannabis factory in Leicester has been exposed by the wintry weather because heat lamps inside melted the snow on its roof
  • An urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running low
  • Companies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before Christmas
  • Transport secretary Philip Hammond says distributors of heating oil are hoping to clear their delivery backlog in the next few days, following fears it may need to be rationed
Airport operator BAA said BA aside, there had been no significant cancellations by other airlines at Heathrow.Airport operator BAA said BA aside, there had been no significant cancellations by other airlines at Heathrow.
Spokesman Andrew Teacher told BBC Radio 4's Today programme both runways had been di-iced and "everything is working".Spokesman Andrew Teacher told BBC Radio 4's Today programme both runways had been di-iced and "everything is working".
A Gatwick Airport spokesman said its runway was temporarily closed until at least 1500 GMT to allow crews to clear snow from the runway, de-ice and assess ground conditions.A Gatwick Airport spokesman said its runway was temporarily closed until at least 1500 GMT to allow crews to clear snow from the runway, de-ice and assess ground conditions.
He said: "Over 3cm of snow has now accumulated on the runway and it is now unsafe to operate aircraft.He said: "Over 3cm of snow has now accumulated on the runway and it is now unsafe to operate aircraft.
"With planes travelling at speeds of more than 100mph when they land or take off, it is critically important that the runway is safe as they do so.""With planes travelling at speeds of more than 100mph when they land or take off, it is critically important that the runway is safe as they do so."
Heavy snow is forecast in Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England. Met Office warnings for heavy snow remain in place across Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England - with up to 25cm forecast for some areas.
And it issued severe "very heavy" snow warnings for Bedfordshire, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Luton, Slough, Surrey, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
Overnight, temperatures reached minus 17.2C just north of Norwich, minus 14C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, and minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.Overnight, temperatures reached minus 17.2C just north of Norwich, minus 14C in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, and minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
Temperatures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland averaged between minus 5C and minus 10C, whilst in Scotland they typically fell to between minus 15C and minus 20C.Temperatures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland averaged between minus 5C and minus 10C, whilst in Scotland they typically fell to between minus 15C and minus 20C.
BBC weather forecaster Daniel Corbett said: "South-west England and the southern counties of England will bear the brunt of this storm." type="text/css" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/uk/09/weathermaps/css/weathermaps.css" rel="stylesheet">
Heavy snowfall during the past few weeks has caused huge disruption, especially in Scotland and north-east England. The enhanced content on this page requires href="/weather/hi/about/newsid_7825000/7825178.stm">Javascript and href="http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Flash Player 9

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Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by the heavy snow and ice or have your travel plans been disrupted? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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