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Snow conditions set to continue Snow conditions set to continue
(about 2 hours 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 groups warn ice is making roads extremely dangerous.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.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.
Snow and ice create havoc on the roads on FridaySnow and ice create havoc on the roads on Friday
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.
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 problemGrit 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. 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 Your pictures: A week in the snowWales: More travel woesSomerset: Power cables downScotland: More heavy snow Authorities in Wiltshire hoped to get 500 tonnes of salt from Devon County Council.Gloucestershire County Council has ordered 500 tonnes of white table salt from a company in Cheshire. 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 Your pictures: A week in the snowWales: More travel woesSomerset: Power cables downScotland: More heavy snow 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.Cheshire-based Salt Union said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand.
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.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."
Neil Robertson sent this shot of a snow plough crash near Tomintoul, ScotlandNeil Robertson sent this shot of a snow plough crash near Tomintoul, Scotland
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."
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. Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said: "The 40,000 tonnes coming on the ship from Spain does not sound a lot - just one salt run can be 130 tonnes, and you have to think of all the different authorities that are involved.
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." "We certainly don't seem to be out of the woods with the weather, they're saying there could be some more snow on Monday.
"It's just crazy that we couldn't have realised that we were going to enter this situation so we could arrange supplies before we had the problem rather than during it."
Jacquie Stares, 58, from Exford in Somerset, told the BBC there was still two feet of snow in her front garden, but that it was "thawing fast".Jacquie Stares, 58, from Exford in Somerset, told the BBC there was still two feet of snow in her front garden, but that it was "thawing fast".
She added: "It's so deep that it's going to take some time to thaw, but it is on its way.She added: "It's so deep that it's going to take some time to thaw, but it is on its way.
"The village shop has been rationing supplies but everybody around here has been sensible and has stocked up on items like bread and Calor gas, just in case."
  • 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.
  • 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.
 "The village shop has been rationing supplies but everybody around here has been sensible and has stocked up on items like bread and Calor gas, just in case."
  • 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.
  • 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.
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 by cancellations.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 and is likely to remain closed for the rest of Saturday. But the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing is fully open.The M4 bridge crossing over the Severn remained closed overnight and is likely to remain closed for the rest of Saturday. But the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing is fully 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.