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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| England braced for heavy snowfall | England braced for heavy snowfall |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| England is bracing itself for wintry weather with a blanket of snow forecast to fall across much of the country. | England is bracing itself for wintry weather with a blanket of snow forecast to fall across much of the country. |
| The North East experienced light snowfall on Wednesday morning, but up to 6ins (15cm) of snow was expected to fall later in a number of regions. | The North East experienced light snowfall on Wednesday morning, but up to 6ins (15cm) of snow was expected to fall later in a number of regions. |
| The worst-hit areas are expected to be hilly parts of the Midlands, such as the Cotswolds, with East Anglia and the south of England also expecting snow. | The worst-hit areas are expected to be hilly parts of the Midlands, such as the Cotswolds, with East Anglia and the south of England also expecting snow. |
| The Highways Agency said it had 400 salt-spreading vehicles on standby. | The Highways Agency said it had 400 salt-spreading vehicles on standby. |
| It said England's motorways and major A-roads would be treated with salt before the snow arrived, while work to treat and clear the roads would continue throughout the cold snap. | It said England's motorways and major A-roads would be treated with salt before the snow arrived, while work to treat and clear the roads would continue throughout the cold snap. |
| Racing off | Racing off |
| Early snow in the North East was worst in coastal areas, with a light coating in Newcastle. | Early snow in the North East was worst in coastal areas, with a light coating in Newcastle. |
| Horse racing meetings at Carlisle and Ludlow were called off because of frost. | Horse racing meetings at Carlisle and Ludlow were called off because of frost. |
| Bob Davies, clerk of the course at Ludlow, said: "It went down to -10C (14F) and we have got frost an inch-and-a-half (3.8cm) into the ground." | Bob Davies, clerk of the course at Ludlow, said: "It went down to -10C (14F) and we have got frost an inch-and-a-half (3.8cm) into the ground." |
| A rosehip in snow in Eglingham, in the North East. Photo: Joyce Butler | |
| The Met Office issued a warning of heavy snow spreading north east across England on Wednesday night, extending across the Midlands, London, the South East and East Anglia during Thursday morning. | The Met Office issued a warning of heavy snow spreading north east across England on Wednesday night, extending across the Midlands, London, the South East and East Anglia during Thursday morning. |
| It said the band of snow would continue to push into northern England by the end of the morning and would continue through the afternoon and evening. | It said the band of snow would continue to push into northern England by the end of the morning and would continue through the afternoon and evening. |
| While people in the Midlands were warned to expect up to 6ins (15cm) of snow, the Met Office said London and the South East could see up to 2ins (5cm) by Thursday morning's rush hour. | While people in the Midlands were warned to expect up to 6ins (15cm) of snow, the Met Office said London and the South East could see up to 2ins (5cm) by Thursday morning's rush hour. |
| Schools closed | Schools closed |
| The opening ceremony for a new £30m road in Norfolk, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed. | The opening ceremony for a new £30m road in Norfolk, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed. |
| The official opening of the newly dualled A11 Attleborough bypass, near Norwich, was postponed due to the forecast heavy snow. | The official opening of the newly dualled A11 Attleborough bypass, near Norwich, was postponed due to the forecast heavy snow. |
| Schools in Dudley in the West Midlands will be closed on Thursday because of the heavy snow predicted for the morning rush hour, with a council spokesman saying the decision had been made after advice from the Met Office and the council's emergency planning team. | Schools in Dudley in the West Midlands will be closed on Thursday because of the heavy snow predicted for the morning rush hour, with a council spokesman saying the decision had been made after advice from the Met Office and the council's emergency planning team. |
| The schools are expected to be open as normal again on Friday. Some schools in other parts of England are expected to also close. | The schools are expected to be open as normal again on Friday. Some schools in other parts of England are expected to also close. |
| The Highways Agency has warned against driving in the snow unless a journey is essential and urged drivers to listen to travel bulletins while on the road and make sure they are prepared with items such as warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-icer, a torch and a spade. | The Highways Agency has warned against driving in the snow unless a journey is essential and urged drivers to listen to travel bulletins while on the road and make sure they are prepared with items such as warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-icer, a torch and a spade. |
| Airport prepared | Airport prepared |
| Network Rail said railway lines in Kent and Sussex were most vulnerable to snow and ice because they take their power from the rails rather than overhead lines. | Network Rail said railway lines in Kent and Sussex were most vulnerable to snow and ice because they take their power from the rails rather than overhead lines. |
| A spokesman for Manchester Airport said it was expecting 1.2ins (3cm) of snow between 0500 GMT and 1200 GMT on Thursday. | A spokesman for Manchester Airport said it was expecting 1.2ins (3cm) of snow between 0500 GMT and 1200 GMT on Thursday. |
| It was calling in extra staff to drive snowmobiles and equipment to keep runways clear. | It was calling in extra staff to drive snowmobiles and equipment to keep runways clear. |
| The South East and parts of northern and eastern England were hit by snow in mid-January. | The South East and parts of northern and eastern England were hit by snow in mid-January. |
| Bookmakers Ladbrokes has offered odds of 6/1 that snow will fall in London on Valentine's Day - next Wednesday. | Bookmakers Ladbrokes has offered odds of 6/1 that snow will fall in London on Valentine's Day - next Wednesday. |