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Ice delays trains as cold snap bites | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Icy conditions caused train delays of up to 90 minutes on Saturday, after temperatures dropped below freezing in parts of the country overnight. | |
Network Rail said some Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink lines were forced to run at reduced speeds. | |
Temperatures fell to lows of -5.2C in Yorkshire, as forecasters said the wintry weather looked set to continue. | |
The Met Office had warned of ice across Northern Ireland, north-west England and much of Scotland. | |
The yellow warning - advising people to "be aware" in areas including London, south-east and south-west England - was lifted at 10:30 GMT on Saturday. | |
Following the frosty start to the day, BBC Weather forecasted a cold and bright day with wintry showers in the north and west. | |
The showers will fall as snow over the hills and to low levels in the north, and perhaps in some parts of the Midlands. | |
Dr Thomas Waite, from Public Health England, reminded people to take precautions. | Dr Thomas Waite, from Public Health England, reminded people to take precautions. |
"Those most at risk include older people, very young children and those with conditions like heart and lung disease," he said. | "Those most at risk include older people, very young children and those with conditions like heart and lung disease," he said. |
"Ask yourself if you could check on a neighbour to see if there's anything they need?" | "Ask yourself if you could check on a neighbour to see if there's anything they need?" |
Figures from the Office for National Statistics, showed an estimated 34,400 "excess deaths" occurred in England and Wales last winter. | Figures from the Office for National Statistics, showed an estimated 34,400 "excess deaths" occurred in England and Wales last winter. |
Salty roads | |
Meanwhile, councils in England and Wales have stockpiled 1.5 million tonnes of salt for roads this winter. | |
Nine out of 10 councils in England and Wales either have the same amount of salt as last year or even more, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). | Nine out of 10 councils in England and Wales either have the same amount of salt as last year or even more, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). |
More than half of councils are sharing salt stocks, while others share gritters and staff when required. | More than half of councils are sharing salt stocks, while others share gritters and staff when required. |
With temperatures falling, some local authorities have already deployed gritters on to roads. | |
There have already been heavy snowfalls in the Scottish Highlands this week, where icy conditions caused a number of road accidents. | |
Meanwhile in Lancashire, more than 70 people had to be rescued from floods. | Meanwhile in Lancashire, more than 70 people had to be rescued from floods. |