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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Motorists rescued from snowdrifts | Motorists rescued from snowdrifts |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 100 people have been rescued from stranded vehicles on the A66 in County Durham after heavy snowfall in the area. | |
| Durham Police have launched a major rescue operation on the transpennine route, which is currently closed in both directions. | Durham Police have launched a major rescue operation on the transpennine route, which is currently closed in both directions. |
| The stranded motorists are being moved to nearby villages, to be sheltered in hotels and pubs. | The stranded motorists are being moved to nearby villages, to be sheltered in hotels and pubs. |
| A coach party of pensioners is among those rescued. | A coach party of pensioners is among those rescued. |
| Those affected are being told to stay put until rescuers arrive in the area, which is affected by heavy snowdrifts. | Those affected are being told to stay put until rescuers arrive in the area, which is affected by heavy snowdrifts. |
| 'Unexpectedly heavy' | 'Unexpectedly heavy' |
| The incident follows an earlier warning for motorists to take care as wintry weather swept across the Pennines. | The incident follows an earlier warning for motorists to take care as wintry weather swept across the Pennines. |
| But a Durham Police spokesman stressed that drivers were not to blame, as the snow was "unexpectedly heavy". | But a Durham Police spokesman stressed that drivers were not to blame, as the snow was "unexpectedly heavy". |
| Neil Sterio, from the Highways Agency, said: "The good news is we have managed to clear a path and we will shortly be working to try to free vehicles which are stuck and turn them away from the scene. | Neil Sterio, from the Highways Agency, said: "The good news is we have managed to clear a path and we will shortly be working to try to free vehicles which are stuck and turn them away from the scene. |
| "At the request of police, we helped evacuate a large number of people from the scene, including 40 pensioners from a coach party. | "At the request of police, we helped evacuate a large number of people from the scene, including 40 pensioners from a coach party. |
| "We are continuing to work at the scene and are carrying out welfare checks and delivering water and food." | "We are continuing to work at the scene and are carrying out welfare checks and delivering water and food." |
| Simon Wilson, from the Castle Hotel in Brough, is among those receiving people freed from vehicles. | Simon Wilson, from the Castle Hotel in Brough, is among those receiving people freed from vehicles. |
| He said: "We've only got 15 rooms, but everyone's in the bar at the moment. | He said: "We've only got 15 rooms, but everyone's in the bar at the moment. |
| "We don't quite know what's going to happen, we're just trying to keep everyone nice and warm." | "We don't quite know what's going to happen, we're just trying to keep everyone nice and warm." |
| People are being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. | People are being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. |
| Widespread frost | Widespread frost |
| Anyone who does should pack food, warm clothes and a shovel in case high winds cause snowdrifts, according to the Highways Agency. | |
| Schools across the North closed early and in south Cumbria about 1,000 properties were left without electricity, after wind-blown trees brought down overhead cables. | Schools across the North closed early and in south Cumbria about 1,000 properties were left without electricity, after wind-blown trees brought down overhead cables. |
| The Highways Agency also urged motorists to avoid the A68, A69, A696 and A686 in Northumberland. | The Highways Agency also urged motorists to avoid the A68, A69, A696 and A686 in Northumberland. |
| The severe weather is expected to continue into the weekend. | The severe weather is expected to continue into the weekend. |
| Temperatures will fall below freezing overnight, with a widespread frost expected on Saturday morning. | Temperatures will fall below freezing overnight, with a widespread frost expected on Saturday morning. |
| During Saturday, wintry showers are forecast to be isolated to mainly Lancashire and Cumbria. | During Saturday, wintry showers are forecast to be isolated to mainly Lancashire and Cumbria. |