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Snow conditions set to continue Snow conditions set to continue
(about 1 hour later)
The coldest snap for 20 years shows no sign of letting up, with the freezing weather expected to last all weekend and into next week.The coldest snap for 20 years shows no sign of letting up, with the freezing weather expected to last all weekend and into next week.
Almost anywhere in the UK can expect a further covering of snow on Sunday and Monday, the BBC Weather Centre said.Almost anywhere in the UK can expect a further covering of snow on Sunday and Monday, the BBC Weather Centre said.
It comes as driving organisations warn ice is turning roads into death traps. It comes as driving groups warn ice is making roads extremely dangerous.
Councils are running low on road salt and Gloucestershire County Council has said it will resort to using table salt to treat roads.Councils are running low on road salt and Gloucestershire County Council has said it will resort to using table salt to treat roads.
The BBC Weather Centre said some parts of the UK, including Kent, Shropshire, Northern Ireland and north west Wales, woke up to a fresh covering of snow on Saturday.The BBC Weather Centre said some parts of the UK, including Kent, Shropshire, Northern Ireland and north west Wales, woke up to a fresh covering of snow on Saturday.
Further snow is likely to fall in the north east of England but is not likely to cause major disruption, while overnight into Sunday temperatures are expected to fall to -10C in rural areas and -4C to -7C in city centres. There's evidence from all over the country of councils helping each other and also the Highways Agency helping local authorities, and vice versa David Sparks, Local Government AssociationFurther snow is likely to fall in the north east of England but is not likely to cause major disruption, while overnight into Sunday temperatures are expected to fall to -10C in rural areas and -4C to -7C in city centres. There's evidence from all over the country of councils helping each other and also the Highways Agency helping local authorities, and vice versa David Sparks, Local Government Association
Falling temperatures in the Bristol and Bath region have meant that roads and pavements are frozen. The Highways Agency and Great Western Ambulance Service have urged people to stay at home.Falling temperatures in the Bristol and Bath region have meant that roads and pavements are frozen. The Highways Agency and Great Western Ambulance Service have urged people to stay at home.
Police forces across the West Country have advised motorists to only make journeys if they were essential, as many roads were covered in black ice.Police forces across the West Country have advised motorists to only make journeys if they were essential, as many roads were covered in black ice.
Roads across Wiltshire were particularly badly affected.Roads across Wiltshire were particularly badly affected.
Grit problem
Forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: "From Sunday morning almost anywhere in the UK may get a further covering, with the north more likely to see snow, up to four inches over the hills.Forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: "From Sunday morning almost anywhere in the UK may get a further covering, with the north more likely to see snow, up to four inches over the hills.
"On Monday into Tuesday, southern Britain is at risk of a further dumping of snow.""On Monday into Tuesday, southern Britain is at risk of a further dumping of snow."
Grit problem
Some councils in England have been running out of road salt, with the Highways Agency saying supplies were "very limited".Some councils in England have been running out of road salt, with the Highways Agency saying supplies were "very limited".
Gloucestershire County Council has ordered 500 tonnes of white table salt from a company in Cheshire.Gloucestershire County Council has ordered 500 tonnes of white table salt from a company in Cheshire.
Authorities in Wiltshire hoped to get 500 tonnes of salt from Devon County Council.Authorities in Wiltshire hoped to get 500 tonnes of salt from Devon County Council.
Stocks in west Berkshire are at 20% of normal levels and are expected to last only another two or three days.Stocks in west Berkshire are at 20% of normal levels and are expected to last only another two or three days.
Cheshire-based Salt Union said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand. It is alarming that we face a grit shortage as the country has to contend with more snow and freezing weather Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretaryCheshire-based Salt Union said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand. It is alarming that we face a grit shortage as the country has to contend with more snow and freezing weather Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary
A container ship is travelling from Spain with 40,000 tonnes of salt, and another ship is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.A container ship is travelling from Spain with 40,000 tonnes of salt, and another ship is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Irish Salt Mining and Exploration company in Carrickfergus, Antrim, is digging up to 6,000 tonnes of salt a day, having been inundated by calls from councils across the UK.Meanwhile, the Irish Salt Mining and Exploration company in Carrickfergus, Antrim, is digging up to 6,000 tonnes of salt a day, having been inundated by calls from councils across the UK.
The BBC's Alex Bushill in Bristol said many councils in the west of England have recently taken salt deliveries and that the situation is now better than it was on Thursday, when supplies were being effectively rationed.
Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) Environment Board, said eight councils had to prioritise supplies to focus on the most important roads.Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) Environment Board, said eight councils had to prioritise supplies to focus on the most important roads.
He said: "If that fails to deal with any issue, then councils will talk to the Highways Agency to look for further supplies."He said: "If that fails to deal with any issue, then councils will talk to the Highways Agency to look for further supplies."
But Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, said: "It is alarming that we face a grit shortage as the country has to contend with more snow and freezing weather. But Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, said: "It is alarming that we face a grit shortage as the country has to contend with more snow and freezing weather."
"Ministers need to take the initiative so that supplies of grit get through to the most important roads and worst affected areas of the country."
'Rethink attitudes'
Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said people feel they still have to drive, even when all other forms of transport have ground to a halt.Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said people feel they still have to drive, even when all other forms of transport have ground to a halt.
He said: "You know we all accept that trains don't run, that aeroplanes can't land. But we never seem to accept that a car driver can be late or not come at all. He said: "You know we all accept that trains don't run, that aeroplanes can't land. But we never seem to accept that a car driver can be late or not come at all."
"And some of the time the whole of society needs to rethink its attitudes towards driving when we get into these particularly bad spells of weather."
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  • In Somerset there are 1,000 homes without power after snow and ice made access to necessary power line repairs difficult. Western Power says it hopes to have restored electricity by the end of Saturday.
• In Somerset there are 1,000 homes without power after snow and ice made access to necessary power line repairs difficult. Western Power says it hopes to have restored electricity by the end of Saturday.
  • A man is in hospital in Swindon with serious head injuries after a gang of teenagers beat him unconscious when he asked them to stop throwing snowballs at his car.
    •  KEY LINKS class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/info_on_the_move/traintracker.html">Traintracker class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/index.html">National Rail Enquiries class="" href="http://www.baa.com/">BAA class="" href="http://www.highways.gov.uk/">Highways Agency class="" href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">Met Office
    • A man is in hospital in Swindon after a gang of teenagers beat him unconscious when he asked them to stop throwing snowballs at his car. He is being treated at Great Western Hospital for serious head injuries. KEY LINKS class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/info_on_the_move/traintracker.html">Traintracker class="" href="http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/index.html">National Rail Enquiries class="" href="http://www.baa.com/">BAA class="" href="http://www.highways.gov.uk/">Highways Agency class="" href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/">Met Office
  • Bath's Royal United Hospital has cancelled orthopaedic surgery for the weekend because its staff have struggled to get to work.
    • • Bath's Royal United Hospital has cancelled orthopaedic surgery for the weekend because its staff have struggled to get to work.
  • Monday's race meeting at Wetherby has been abandoned after the track failed an inspection.
  • Northamptonshire Police said the freeze had left roads in the county in a treacherous condition.
    • After a week with roads much quieter than normal because of the weather conditions, traffic police are preparing for the number of football and rugby fans crossing the UK on a typically busy sporting Saturday.After a week with roads much quieter than normal because of the weather conditions, traffic police are preparing for the number of football and rugby fans crossing the UK on a typically busy sporting Saturday.
    Three Championship football matches were called off on Friday, along with several other games, due to the weather. But there are eight Premiership fixtures still scheduled with away fans travelling hundreds of miles. There are eight Premiership fixtures still scheduled with away fans travelling hundreds of miles.
    English rugby union fans will be converging on Twickenham in London for England's opening match in the Six Nations against Italy.English rugby union fans will be converging on Twickenham in London for England's opening match in the Six Nations against Italy.
    Many Welsh rugby fans planning to fly to Scotland for their team's opening fixture on Sunday have already seen their plans disrupted. On Friday, flights from Bristol Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh were cancelled due to the heavy snow Many Welsh rugby fans planning to fly to Scotland for their team's opening fixture on Sunday have already seen their plans disrupted by cancellations.
    Meanwhile, fans travelling by road had to cope with the closure of the two Severn bridges when ice started falling from the gantries.Meanwhile, fans travelling by road had to cope with the closure of the two Severn bridges when ice started falling from the gantries.
    The M4 bridge crossing over the Severn remained closed overnight. The M4 bridge crossing over the Severn remained closed overnight and has yet to re-open.
    Elsewhere, the weather conditions are continuing to cause travel problems. Early on Saturday, ice was hampering drivers on the M4 in Bristol and Gloucestershire and the M5 in Devon, while there were several major road badly affected in Wales and the west of England.Elsewhere, the weather conditions are continuing to cause travel problems. Early on Saturday, ice was hampering drivers on the M4 in Bristol and Gloucestershire and the M5 in Devon, while there were several major road badly affected in Wales and the west of England.