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Met Office extends warning as snow blankets the east

18/12/2009

Travellers in the east and south east of England are facing difficult conditions after heavy snowfalls overnight.

Greater London, Kent, Essex, Sussex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire are all experiencing transport upheavals with snowfalls of up to 20cm (8in), while Suffolk police have described Thursday night as "horrendous".

The weather has caused delays and cancellations on the rail network, while some roads have been blocked by jack-knifed lorries and abandoned cars. Some drivers were even forced to sleep in their vehicles overnight.

More snow is forecast across the affected regions, while the Met Office has extended existing severe weather warnings for Friday northwards through the East Midlands to Yorkshire and Humber.

Snow has also been reported in parts of mid and south Wales, while more snowfalls are expected in the east of England throughout the course of Friday. Conditions are expected to ease from the south east overnight.

The Highways Agency said that its fleet of more than 500 salt spreaders, snow ploughs and snow blowers would be working to keep roads open, but it urged motorists to take simple precautions, such as taking warm clothes, food and water and driving appropriately for the conditions.

And the Institute of Advanced Motorists said that skidding on ice should be the main concern of those driving in freezing conditions, and urged drivers to leave between two and three times the normal stopping distance.

"When driving in snow, get your speed right - not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it," said chief examiner Peter Rodger.

"Brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible."

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