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Sheet ice crashes close busy road Sheet ice crashes close busy road
(about 1 hour later)
A major road running through Devon and Cornwall has been closed by police because sheet ice has made it too dangerous to drive on. A 40-mile (64km) stretch of one of Devon and Cornwall's major roads was closed by police because sheet ice made it too dangerous to drive on.
A 40-mile (64-km) section of the A30 between Okehampton and Bodmin is shut in both directions after several accidents "littered the road". The A30 between Okehampton and Bodmin has now partially reopened after being shut in both directions when a number of accidents "littered the road".
Devon and Cornwall Police said officers at the scene found it was "too slippery to even stand up" in some places.Devon and Cornwall Police said officers at the scene found it was "too slippery to even stand up" in some places.
The road, which is being gritted, will remain closed until it is deemed safe. The road was gritted twice overnight, the Highways Agency said.
The appeal is for drivers to please slow down - we don't want any more accidents Alison Sixsmith, Highways Agency Gritting is not a magic wand Highways Agency spokesman
Joe Head, from Devon and Cornwall Police said: "There have been many crashes on the road, it was deemed unsafe.Joe Head, from Devon and Cornwall Police said: "There have been many crashes on the road, it was deemed unsafe.
"Officers at the scene reported it was too slippery to even stand up in some places."Officers at the scene reported it was too slippery to even stand up in some places.
"Accidents have littered the road this morning.""Accidents have littered the road this morning."
Alison Sixsmith, from the Highways Agency, said: "We have been out during the night. The Highways Agency said it had gritted the A30 twice overnight.
"We've done full 'pre-salts' twice but there has been some shower activity. A spokesman said: "After salting this morning we had a lot of hail and rain which washed away the salt and iced over again.
"We've got the gritters out there, they're still treating, but really the appeal is for drivers to please slow down - we don't want any more accidents." "It is unusual but there's not a lot we can do about it. Gritting is not a magic wand."
The Met office has issued a severe weather warning because of the icy conditions. The A38, another major road connecting Devon and Cornwall, was closed at Dobwalls after four separate accidents in the same area.
The A38 has also been closed in some places.