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Snow causing further disruption Snow causes further UK disruption
(about 4 hours later)
Parts of the UK struggled with a second day of disruption following their heaviest snowfalls in 18 years, which closed over 6,000 schools. Parts of the UK have struggled with a second day of disruption following their heaviest snowfalls in 18 years, which closed more than 6,000 schools.
Wales and the south west of England bore the brunt of the snow, which is expected to move north. Wales and south-west England bore the brunt of the snow on Tuesday, which is expected to move north.
South-east England saw disruption on roads and cancelled trains and flights, and gritters have struggled to reach some areas in the Pennines. South-east England saw further delays on roads and cancelled trains and flights, while gritters have struggled to reach some areas in the Pennines.
Forecasters warned more heavy snow could fall later in the week.Forecasters warned more heavy snow could fall later in the week.
Council leaders have admitted stocks of grit have been massively depleted, but say they are unlikely to run out as supplies are being continuously restocked.Council leaders have admitted stocks of grit have been massively depleted, but say they are unlikely to run out as supplies are being continuously restocked.
Although overnight snowfall in northern England was not as heavy as predicted, many minor roads have witnessed tailbacks and heavy disruption. Although Monday night's snowfall in northern England was not as heavy as had been forecast, many minor roads have witnessed tailbacks and heavy disruption.
'Round two''Round two'
Snow will continue to fall in eastern Scotland and the Borders on Tuesday evening, with further falls predicted for northern Scotland on Wednesday. Snow was forecast to fall in eastern Scotland and the Borders on Tuesday evening, with further falls predicted for northern Scotland on Wednesday. KEY LINKS class="" href="http://www.baa.com/">BAA class="" href="http://www.londoncityairport.com/">London City Airport class="" href="http://www.london-luton.co.uk/emergency/">Luton Airport class="" href="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/">Transport for London class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/">National Rail Enquiries class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC Weather
BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the south and south-west of the country would continue to see ice and scattered snow showers. BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the entire UK was likely to witness heavy frosts on Tuesday night, and there was a possibility of more significant, heavy snow showers in England and Wales at the end of the week.
KEY LINKS BAALondon City AirportLuton AirportTransport for LondonNational Rail EnquiriesBBC Weather
The entire country is likely to witness heavy frosts on Tuesday night, and there is a possibility of more significant, heavy snow showers in England and Wales at the end of the week.
"There is a risk of round two," he said."There is a risk of round two," he said.
More than 6,000 UK schools were shut on Tuesday, including 578 in Wales, 450 in Hampshire, 428 in Birmingham, 400 in Essex and 350 in Leicester and Rutland.More than 6,000 UK schools were shut on Tuesday, including 578 in Wales, 450 in Hampshire, 428 in Birmingham, 400 in Essex and 350 in Leicester and Rutland.
Authorities including East Sussex, West Sussex, Somerset, East Staffordshire, Dudley, and Kent also closed schools.Authorities including East Sussex, West Sussex, Somerset, East Staffordshire, Dudley, and Kent also closed schools.
Authorities have already announced that nearly 40 schools in Wales will remain closed on Wednesday.
Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said the decision to keep thousands of schools shut for a second day sent the wrong signals to children.Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, said the decision to keep thousands of schools shut for a second day sent the wrong signals to children.
She added: "We are giving children the message that when things get difficult you should just stay at home and have fun." She added: "We are giving children the message that when things get difficult, you should just stay at home and have fun."
The Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, said he understood the frustration of working parents but believed many will have welcomed an early decision on school closures: Schools Secretary Ed Balls said he understood the frustration of working parents but believed many would have welcomed an early decision on school closures:
"Many parents, wanting to plan their arrangements for today, will be pleased to have certainty yesterday of what was going to happen today," he said. "Many parents, wanting to plan their arrangements for today, will be pleased to have certainty yesterday of what was going to happen," he said.
In other developments:In other developments:
• Five teenage girls have been injured, two of them critically, while sledging in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It is understood their makeshift sledge, which was made of metal and believed to be an upturned car roof, slid through a barbed wire fence before hitting a separate section of fence.
• Two men have been airlifted to hospital following two separate incidents in which they have fallen from toboggans, in Sedgley, West Midlands. They both suffered back injuries.• Two men have been airlifted to hospital following two separate incidents in which they have fallen from toboggans, in Sedgley, West Midlands. They both suffered back injuries.
• Drivers in southern England faced hazardous road conditions after Monday's snowfall turned to ice. • Two military rescue helicopters assisted ambulance services in parts of Devon and Cornwall as roads became impassable following 10cm of snow in some areas.
• Two military rescue helicopters are assisting ambulance services in parts of Devon and Cornwall as roads became impassable following 10cm of snow in some areas. Meanwhile, trains on the East Coast Main Line were disrupted, with at least nine rail services between London and Leeds cancelled.
Trains on the East Coast Main Line were disrupted, with at least nine rail services between London and Leeds cancelled. Services were badly affected on Southeastern and South West Trains into and out of London, with suspensions or reduced timetables on most routes.
Services are badly affected on Southeastern and South West Trains into and out of the capital, with suspensions or reduced timetables on most routes.
Southern has now resumed operation of some services from Kent and the south coast, although suspensions are still in place on the London to Brighton route and others around Greater London.Southern has now resumed operation of some services from Kent and the south coast, although suspensions are still in place on the London to Brighton route and others around Greater London.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said all operators should be running a normal, full-time service by Wednesday.The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said all operators should be running a normal, full-time service by Wednesday.
LINKS TO OUR UK COVERAGE London: Fewer travel problemsScotland: Caution urgedWales: Roads and schools hitNI: Rail and air delaysSouth West: Roads blockedEast Anglia: Coldest lowSouth: More disruptionMap: UK snowfallLINKS TO OUR UK COVERAGE London: Fewer travel problemsScotland: Caution urgedWales: Roads and schools hitNI: Rail and air delaysSouth West: Roads blockedEast Anglia: Coldest lowSouth: More disruptionMap: UK snowfall
Eurostar services from St Pancras International are still suffering disruption and all train passengers are advised to check with National Rail Enquiries before setting out.Eurostar services from St Pancras International are still suffering disruption and all train passengers are advised to check with National Rail Enquiries before setting out.
Transport for London said most bus routes are operating but three remain suspended, while all London Underground lines are now running, although experiencing delays. Transport for London said most bus routes were operating but three remained suspended, while all London Underground lines were now running, although experiencing delays.
Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and London City airports are all open but are suffering a second day of "significant delays and cancellations". Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and London City airports are all open but have suffered a second day of "significant delays and cancellations".
Flights at Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton and Aberdeen are also suffering disruption. Flights at Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton and Aberdeen have also suffered disruption.
British Airways said diversions on Monday meant many planes were not in the right places for their departures on Tuesday. British Airways said diversions on Monday meant many planes had not been in the right places for their departures on Tuesday.
The Highways Agency is continuing to warn drivers in worst-affected areas not to travel unless their journey is essential. The Highways Agency is continuing to warn drivers in the worst-affected areas to travel only if their journey is essential.
Those who do venture out should be well prepared, it said. Those who do venture out should be well prepared, it said. We've got enough grit to make sure that we can grit continuously for the next 12 days Jenny Hart, Highways Agency
We've got enough grit to make sure that we can grit continuously for the next 12 days Jenny Hart, Highways Agency
The number of car journeys made across its network on Monday evening was 31% down on normal levels, according to the agency. Tuesday's rush hour was 26.5% down on a normal morning.The number of car journeys made across its network on Monday evening was 31% down on normal levels, according to the agency. Tuesday's rush hour was 26.5% down on a normal morning.
An agency spokeswoman said 500 gritting lorries were being used to keep main routes open.An agency spokeswoman said 500 gritting lorries were being used to keep main routes open.
She said: "We're well prepared for everything that the snow throws at us at the moment. We've got enough grit to make sure that we can grit continuously for the next 12 days - that's 18,000 tonnes of grit just in Yorkshire alone." Jenny Hart said: "We're well prepared for everything that the snow throws at us at the moment. We've got enough grit to make sure that we can grit continuously for the next 12 days - that's 18,000 tonnes of grit just in Yorkshire alone."
All the main roads remain open in Scotland, which avoided the severe weather seen in England and Wales and saw temperatures mostly stay above freezing overnight.All the main roads remain open in Scotland, which avoided the severe weather seen in England and Wales and saw temperatures mostly stay above freezing overnight.
The extent of the disruption to the transport network has prompted some criticism of the UK's preparations for the snow.The extent of the disruption to the transport network has prompted some criticism of the UK's preparations for the snow.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said it was clear that local authorities did not have the resources to cope - but he said many experts believed it would not be worth the investment given the infrequency of such conditions. BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said it was clear that local authorities did not have the resources to cope - but he said many experts believed it would not be worth the extra investment given the infrequency of such conditions.