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Fresh snow brings travel problems Fresh snow brings travel problems
(40 minutes later)
More snowfall across parts of the UK has brought fresh travel disruption and school closures to thousands.More snowfall across parts of the UK has brought fresh travel disruption and school closures to thousands.
Severe weather warnings are in place and two walkers have died in freezing conditions in the Lake District.Severe weather warnings are in place and two walkers have died in freezing conditions in the Lake District.
Councils say they are running out of road salt and the AA warned shortages have created a "road safety crisis".Councils say they are running out of road salt and the AA warned shortages have created a "road safety crisis".
The M4, M5 and M1 have been badly affected and hundreds of schools have closed. The government said it was hard to prepare for such unusual weather.The M4, M5 and M1 have been badly affected and hundreds of schools have closed. The government said it was hard to prepare for such unusual weather.
The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and BBC weather forecasters are now warning that similar quantities of snow to Monday could fall on London and parts of southern England on Friday.
Some 20cm (7.9in) of snow has been reported in parts of the Cotswolds and Aberdeenshire.Some 20cm (7.9in) of snow has been reported in parts of the Cotswolds and Aberdeenshire.
SNOW DEPTHS Cotswolds: 7.9in (20cm)Salisbury Plain: 4.7in (12cm)Oxfordshire: 3.9in (10cm)Leicestershire: 3.9in (10cm)Antrim Hills, Northern Ireland: 3.9in (10cm)Chilterns: 3.9in (10cm)Bristol: 3.9in (10cm)Midlands: 4.7in (12cm) Source: BBC Weather Centre, 1300 GMTSNOW DEPTHS Cotswolds: 7.9in (20cm)Salisbury Plain: 4.7in (12cm)Oxfordshire: 3.9in (10cm)Leicestershire: 3.9in (10cm)Antrim Hills, Northern Ireland: 3.9in (10cm)Chilterns: 3.9in (10cm)Bristol: 3.9in (10cm)Midlands: 4.7in (12cm) Source: BBC Weather Centre, 1300 GMT
Two walkers have died in the freezing conditions during the last 24 hours in the Langdale area of the Lake District.Two walkers have died in the freezing conditions during the last 24 hours in the Langdale area of the Lake District.
The body of a missing walker was found by mountain rescue teams and another walker died after falling over 100 ft in icy conditions.The body of a missing walker was found by mountain rescue teams and another walker died after falling over 100 ft in icy conditions.
The man who fell is believed to have slipped on ice on Pavey Ark in the Langdales near Ambleside. His body has been recovered by an RAF helicopter.The man who fell is believed to have slipped on ice on Pavey Ark in the Langdales near Ambleside. His body has been recovered by an RAF helicopter.
Meanwhile two missing climbers in the Cairngorms were found safe and well. The two men - who are thought to be from the Highland area and aged 22 and 29 - were spotted by a rescue helicopter from RAF Kinloss and are now being flown to Glenmore Lodge outdoor centre.Meanwhile two missing climbers in the Cairngorms were found safe and well. The two men - who are thought to be from the Highland area and aged 22 and 29 - were spotted by a rescue helicopter from RAF Kinloss and are now being flown to Glenmore Lodge outdoor centre.
Matt Taylor of the BBC Weather Centre said the snowy weather would start to ease for much of the UK through the night but with widespread icy conditions developing. Matt Taylor of the BBC Weather Centre said for much of the UK the snowy weather would start to ease through the night, but BBC weather forecasters also said more heavy snow is due for parts of central and southern England in the early hours of Friday and may continue for several hours.
By Friday morning, parts of central and southern England would receive the next heavy snowfall, he added. The area affected is a band from south-west England, across south-central England, into London, and up into the southeast Midlands and "west" Anglia.
The area to the north west of London is most at risk, with a forecast of eight inches of snow.
Salt shortagesSalt shortages
However some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, the Local Government Association (LGA) admitted. Worcestershire County Council is not gritting roads but sending out snow ploughs. Despite predictions the bad weather is to continue, some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, the Local Government Association (LGA) admitted.
Worcestershire County Council is not gritting roads but sending out snow ploughs.
County Councils in Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Ceredigion as well as Swindon borough council have confirmed that they are running low on salt and are only salting main routes.County Councils in Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Ceredigion as well as Swindon borough council have confirmed that they are running low on salt and are only salting main routes.
Hertfordshire County Council said it was seeking additional supplies from abroad, while Cumbria County Council said it could over-spend its winter maintenance budget by £1.3m.Hertfordshire County Council said it was seeking additional supplies from abroad, while Cumbria County Council said it could over-spend its winter maintenance budget by £1.3m.
Derek Turner, Director of Networks Operations at the Highways Agency, said it had "three, four days of salt supplies remaining".Derek Turner, Director of Networks Operations at the Highways Agency, said it had "three, four days of salt supplies remaining".
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Paul Bettison of the LGA told the BBC's Today programme that the UK should look to importing fresh supplies of salt.Paul Bettison of the LGA told the BBC's Today programme that the UK should look to importing fresh supplies of salt.
"That requires government to actually work with us all, and then we can do it as one - rather than, as we've seen, having this scrapping for what limited supplies are available.""That requires government to actually work with us all, and then we can do it as one - rather than, as we've seen, having this scrapping for what limited supplies are available."
AA President Edmund King called on the government to co-ordinate the situation and ensure salt stocks were maintained so that Britain's roads did not become "death traps".AA President Edmund King called on the government to co-ordinate the situation and ensure salt stocks were maintained so that Britain's roads did not become "death traps".
Rosie Cooper, the Labour MP for Lancashire West, said preparations had been "woefully inadequate" and accused councils of gritting fewer roads each year.Rosie Cooper, the Labour MP for Lancashire West, said preparations had been "woefully inadequate" and accused councils of gritting fewer roads each year.
Travel chaosTravel chaos
But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said storing snow ploughs and extra gritting salt would be expensive, when the snowy weather is so unusual.But Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said storing snow ploughs and extra gritting salt would be expensive, when the snowy weather is so unusual.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency has advised drivers to take extreme care and not to travel in the worst affected areas unless it is essential.A spokesman for the Highways Agency has advised drivers to take extreme care and not to travel in the worst affected areas unless it is essential.
The Great Western Ambulance Service has brought in 4x4 vehicles to try to maintain their services. The East of England Ambulance Service has asked people to call 999 only in an emergency.The Great Western Ambulance Service has brought in 4x4 vehicles to try to maintain their services. The East of England Ambulance Service has asked people to call 999 only in an emergency.
KEY LINKS BAATransport for LondonNational Rail EnquiriesBBC WeatherHighways AgencySchool closures in WalesKEY LINKS BAATransport for LondonNational Rail EnquiriesBBC WeatherHighways AgencySchool closures in Wales
Meanwhile thousands of pupils have had another day off as schools across the UK closed their doors on Thursday.Meanwhile thousands of pupils have had another day off as schools across the UK closed their doors on Thursday.
Some 623 in Wales have shut, while other closures have been reported in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Birmingham, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Sheffield, Rotherham, Coventry, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire.Some 623 in Wales have shut, while other closures have been reported in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Birmingham, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Sheffield, Rotherham, Coventry, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire.
Devon, Bristol, Shropshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Solihull, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Norfolk have also reported school closures.Devon, Bristol, Shropshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Solihull, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Norfolk have also reported school closures.