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| Accidents on 'treacherous' roads | Accidents on 'treacherous' roads |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Icy roads across much of Britain have caused scores of accidents and left dozens of people injured. | Icy roads across much of Britain have caused scores of accidents and left dozens of people injured. |
| More than 40 people were hurt, two seriously, in two bus crashes in Gloucestershire. Ambulance officials said roads were "treacherously icy". | More than 40 people were hurt, two seriously, in two bus crashes in Gloucestershire. Ambulance officials said roads were "treacherously icy". |
| There have been at least 52 accidents in West Yorkshire and police say numbers are rising. Many councils are awaiting fresh deliveries of road salt. | There have been at least 52 accidents in West Yorkshire and police say numbers are rising. Many councils are awaiting fresh deliveries of road salt. |
| Meanwhile, 54 flood warnings remain in place, mostly for southern England. | Meanwhile, 54 flood warnings remain in place, mostly for southern England. |
| Forecasters say the worst of the weather is over for now, but torrential rain and heavy snow earlier in the week flooded parts of southern Britain on Tuesday. | Forecasters say the worst of the weather is over for now, but torrential rain and heavy snow earlier in the week flooded parts of southern Britain on Tuesday. |
| In Essex, many homes were under water, while elsewhere schools were forced to close, travel was disrupted and 3,000 Midlands homes went without power. | In Essex, many homes were under water, while elsewhere schools were forced to close, travel was disrupted and 3,000 Midlands homes went without power. |
| Parts of south-west England saw almost a month's rainfall in just 24 hours. | Parts of south-west England saw almost a month's rainfall in just 24 hours. |
| Army personnel | Army personnel |
| Reports of accidents due to ice have come in from counties across England, including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. | Reports of accidents due to ice have come in from counties across England, including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. |
| The incidents in Gloucestershire on Wednesday morning occurred within a few miles of each other. Clearly these are both very serious incidents with multiple patients injured Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman Two bus crashes leave 42 injuredCommuters face chaos on icy roads | The incidents in Gloucestershire on Wednesday morning occurred within a few miles of each other. Clearly these are both very serious incidents with multiple patients injured Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman Two bus crashes leave 42 injuredCommuters face chaos on icy roads |
| At 0522 GMT, a coach crashed into a tree after skidding on ice on the A40 at Puesdown, south east of Cheltenham. | At 0522 GMT, a coach crashed into a tree after skidding on ice on the A40 at Puesdown, south east of Cheltenham. |
| It was carrying 29 Royal Marines from 42 Commando from Plymouth to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, from where they are understood to have been due to fly to Afghanistan. | It was carrying 29 Royal Marines from 42 Commando from Plymouth to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, from where they are understood to have been due to fly to Afghanistan. |
| The 39-year-old civilian driver, who was cut free after nearly two hours, is thought to have serious head injuries. | The 39-year-old civilian driver, who was cut free after nearly two hours, is thought to have serious head injuries. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said six marines were also hurt. Five are due to be discharged later and the sixth is currently being examined in hospital. The families of those involved have been informed. | |
| Earlier, at about 0445 GMT, a minibus with 14 people on board crashed at Highnam, near the A40 west of Gloucester. | Earlier, at about 0445 GMT, a minibus with 14 people on board crashed at Highnam, near the A40 west of Gloucester. |
| Twelve people were hurt, one seriously, and all were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. | Twelve people were hurt, one seriously, and all were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. |
| An ambulance spokesman said a number of paramedic crews had been sent from across the Gloucestershire and Avon region. | An ambulance spokesman said a number of paramedic crews had been sent from across the Gloucestershire and Avon region. |
| "Clearly these are both very serious incidents with multiple patients injured," he said. | "Clearly these are both very serious incidents with multiple patients injured," he said. |
| "Occurring within a few miles of each other, it has resulted in us despatching considerable resources." | "Occurring within a few miles of each other, it has resulted in us despatching considerable resources." |
| Further north, a West Yorkshire police spokesman said black ice was causing difficulties and minor accidents on many roads, including motorways. TUESDAY WEATHER TOLL 2.3in (6cm) of rain in Scilly Isles4.7in (12cm) of snow in BristolLondon's Thames Barrier closed3,000 homes in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire left without electricityAlmost 200 schools closed | Further north, a West Yorkshire police spokesman said black ice was causing difficulties and minor accidents on many roads, including motorways. TUESDAY WEATHER TOLL 2.3in (6cm) of rain in Scilly Isles4.7in (12cm) of snow in BristolLondon's Thames Barrier closed3,000 homes in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire left without electricityAlmost 200 schools closed |
| A caller to BBC News said vehicles were parked on the hard shoulder of the M621 after sliding into the central reservation barrier. | A caller to BBC News said vehicles were parked on the hard shoulder of the M621 after sliding into the central reservation barrier. |
| In Wiltshire, police say they have received 40 reports of accidents since 0600 GMT, while Warwickshire saw 24 crashes before 0900 GMT. | In Wiltshire, police say they have received 40 reports of accidents since 0600 GMT, while Warwickshire saw 24 crashes before 0900 GMT. |
| The county's highways manager said roads were gritted Tuesday, but flood waters washed much of the salt away. | The county's highways manager said roads were gritted Tuesday, but flood waters washed much of the salt away. |
| In Bedfordshire, police have closed a number of roads and the council has cancelled several school bus services because of icy conditions. | In Bedfordshire, police have closed a number of roads and the council has cancelled several school bus services because of icy conditions. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service is warning drivers to take extra care after a spate of accidents. | West Midlands Ambulance Service is warning drivers to take extra care after a spate of accidents. |
| In North Yorkshire, a woman hurt in a crash on an icy road near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has died. | In North Yorkshire, a woman hurt in a crash on an icy road near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has died. |
| The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for ice across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and southern England. | The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for ice across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and southern England. |
| Rivers overflow | Rivers overflow |
| Elsewhere on Wednesday a clean-up operation was under way following Tuesday's floods. | Elsewhere on Wednesday a clean-up operation was under way following Tuesday's floods. |
| There are more than 180 flood alerts of varying degrees still in place. | There are more than 180 flood alerts of varying degrees still in place. |
| Several rivers burst their banks including the River Colne in Hertfordshire, where some areas were under four feet of water, and the Cam in West Camel, Somerset. | Several rivers burst their banks including the River Colne in Hertfordshire, where some areas were under four feet of water, and the Cam in West Camel, Somerset. |
| Bob Spink, UKIP MP for Castle Point in Essex, called on the government to make an urgent statement on flooding in the county.Several rivers burst their banks after heavy snow and rain | Bob Spink, UKIP MP for Castle Point in Essex, called on the government to make an urgent statement on flooding in the county.Several rivers burst their banks after heavy snow and rain |
| Other counties badly affected included Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire where up to 3,000 homes had their electricity cut off, largely because of the weather. | Other counties badly affected included Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire where up to 3,000 homes had their electricity cut off, largely because of the weather. |
| Shoreham, in West Sussex, saw 1.6in (4.1cm) of rain in one day - the average monthly rainfall in Sussex is 2.2in (5.7cm). | Shoreham, in West Sussex, saw 1.6in (4.1cm) of rain in one day - the average monthly rainfall in Sussex is 2.2in (5.7cm). |
| And Northolt, in Middlesex, had 1.5in (3.8cm) of rain, while the monthly average for the area is 1.5in (3.9cm). | And Northolt, in Middlesex, had 1.5in (3.8cm) of rain, while the monthly average for the area is 1.5in (3.9cm). |
| On Wednesday, forecasters are expecting cloud and some wintry showers to push south over England and Wales and there will be sunshine in the north with some showers on the east coast. | On Wednesday, forecasters are expecting cloud and some wintry showers to push south over England and Wales and there will be sunshine in the north with some showers on the east coast. |