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| Fresh snow causes more disruption | Fresh snow causes more disruption |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Heavy snow has intensified across Wales and central England as forecasters warned poor weather was moving north. | Heavy snow has intensified across Wales and central England as forecasters warned poor weather was moving north. |
| Many commuters had a difficult journey home with 10cm of snow expected to fall across the Midlands. | |
| But the snowfall could reach up to 20cm over the Pennines later as a Met Office severe weather warning remained in place on Friday evening. | But the snowfall could reach up to 20cm over the Pennines later as a Met Office severe weather warning remained in place on Friday evening. |
| With black ice and freezing fog forecast, motorists in affected areas were urged not to drive. | With black ice and freezing fog forecast, motorists in affected areas were urged not to drive. |
| 'Next in line' | 'Next in line' |
| Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and south Wales were all the worst affected, with 25cm of snow recorded in Sennybridge, Powys. | Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and south Wales were all the worst affected, with 25cm of snow recorded in Sennybridge, Powys. |
| But Sue Powell from the BBC Weather Centre said it will hit other parts of the country as Friday evening progresses. | But Sue Powell from the BBC Weather Centre said it will hit other parts of the country as Friday evening progresses. |
| She added: "The North Midlands, north Wales and the Pennines are all next in line. | She added: "The North Midlands, north Wales and the Pennines are all next in line. |
| "The snowfall has intensified across west and central parts today, but people further up the country should prepare for it to reach them." | "The snowfall has intensified across west and central parts today, but people further up the country should prepare for it to reach them." |
| She added that there was a risk of flooding in Wales, south-west England and the West Midlands with rain forecast for Saturday and a thaw likely. | She added that there was a risk of flooding in Wales, south-west England and the West Midlands with rain forecast for Saturday and a thaw likely. |
| Midlands travel misery Motorway closes in Wales More of your snow pictures | Midlands travel misery Motorway closes in Wales More of your snow pictures |
| Roads had been quiet early in the day as many workers commuters staggered their journeys. The Highways Agency said there were 400 gritters out in the morning. | Roads had been quiet early in the day as many workers commuters staggered their journeys. The Highways Agency said there were 400 gritters out in the morning. |
| But workers slipping off home early led to gridlock in some places, with the M5 solid for 15 miles from junction five at Bromsgrove. | But workers slipping off home early led to gridlock in some places, with the M5 solid for 15 miles from junction five at Bromsgrove. |
| A British Legion Club near Malvern, Worcestershire, is offering warmth and refreshment to stranded drivers, with many of the steep hills on the main route to Hereford impassable. | A British Legion Club near Malvern, Worcestershire, is offering warmth and refreshment to stranded drivers, with many of the steep hills on the main route to Hereford impassable. |
| Around 250 cars were abandoned on the A4103 from Hereford to Worcester as drivers sought refuge. | Around 250 cars were abandoned on the A4103 from Hereford to Worcester as drivers sought refuge. |
| Motorists were urged by police to stay in their vehicles if they broke down. | Motorists were urged by police to stay in their vehicles if they broke down. |
| In a statement, West Midlands Police said conditions in Birmingham were "continuing to deteriorate", and advised drivers not to travel though the city centre unless it was absolutely necessary. | In a statement, West Midlands Police said conditions in Birmingham were "continuing to deteriorate", and advised drivers not to travel though the city centre unless it was absolutely necessary. |
| "There is now ice on some of the major roads in Birmingham and driving is nearly impossible," it continued. | "There is now ice on some of the major roads in Birmingham and driving is nearly impossible," it continued. |
| Murray MacGregor from West Midlands Ambulance Service said the situation on the roads was so bad that crews were having difficulty responding to emergency calls. | Murray MacGregor from West Midlands Ambulance Service said the situation on the roads was so bad that crews were having difficulty responding to emergency calls. |
| He said: "We really need people to think whether they need to dial 999, especially if it's for something like a stubbed toe which we had earlier this evening. | He said: "We really need people to think whether they need to dial 999, especially if it's for something like a stubbed toe which we had earlier this evening. |
| "We are still working extremely hard. But the roads are now so gridlocked right across the area that it is affecting our ability to respond to 999 calls." | "We are still working extremely hard. But the roads are now so gridlocked right across the area that it is affecting our ability to respond to 999 calls." |
| Birmingham Airport's runway was closed from 1630 GMT to 1945 GMT to due to heavy snow on the runway. | Birmingham Airport's runway was closed from 1630 GMT to 1945 GMT to due to heavy snow on the runway. |
| A spokeswoman said passengers should turn up at the airport for scheduled flights, but warned: "Once we can get people in the air again there will be some delays." | A spokeswoman said passengers should turn up at the airport for scheduled flights, but warned: "Once we can get people in the air again there will be some delays." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I have not been affected in the slightest and my school refuses to listen to the pupils and closed down for the day David, London Has your school been closed? | HAVE YOUR SAY I have not been affected in the slightest and my school refuses to listen to the pupils and closed down for the day David, London Has your school been closed? |
| But across England and Wales most flights returned to normal, although travellers were warned to take extra time because of a possible backlog from disruption on Thursday. | But across England and Wales most flights returned to normal, although travellers were warned to take extra time because of a possible backlog from disruption on Thursday. |
| Network Rail later said the situation was as "good as normal" for train companies. | Network Rail later said the situation was as "good as normal" for train companies. |
| The poor weather is expected to last into the weekend and early next week, although it is expected to be milder with snow giving way to sleet and rain. | The poor weather is expected to last into the weekend and early next week, although it is expected to be milder with snow giving way to sleet and rain. |
| However, Aberdeen and Angus in north-east Scotland could be set for further snowfall on Saturday. | However, Aberdeen and Angus in north-east Scotland could be set for further snowfall on Saturday. |
| Cope better | Cope better |
| Thousands of children were off school for a second day in Wales, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Oxfordshire. | Thousands of children were off school for a second day in Wales, Birmingham, Buckinghamshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Oxfordshire. |
| Some parents, forced to take time off work to care for their children - or pay others to do so - feel that some schools have been over-reacting. | Some parents, forced to take time off work to care for their children - or pay others to do so - feel that some schools have been over-reacting. |
| Disruption caused by the thick blanket of snow since Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds. | Disruption caused by the thick blanket of snow since Thursday is thought to have cost hundreds of millions of pounds. |
| Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather. | Commons Leader Jack Straw admitted that Britain could cope better with this type of weather. |