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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Motorists rescued from snowdrifts | Motorists rescued from snowdrifts |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| More than 100 people have been rescued from vehicles stranded by heavy snowfall on the A66 in County Durham. | |
| The emergency operation was launched when 130 vehicles ground to a halt on the transpennine route, which will be shut in both directions until morning. | |
| Stranded motorists were moved to hotels and pubs in nearby villages, though some have since been able to leave. | |
| A coach party of 40 pensioners and another of 15 children were among those taken to safety. | A coach party of 40 pensioners and another of 15 children were among those taken to safety. |
| 'Unexpectedly heavy' | 'Unexpectedly heavy' |
| A Durham Police spokeswoman said: "Snow ploughs have been working continuously on the road and the vast majority of the 130 vehicles originally stranded have now been removed. | |
| "The people who were taken to the reception centre at the village hall and local pub, aided by police and mountain rescue volunteers, have either been able to leave the area in their vehicles or are staying in bed and breakfast accommodation." | |
| About 25 heavy goods vehicles remained on the A66 late on Friday night, but all private motorists had been evacuated, according to the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team. | |
| Police would escort any remaining lorry drivers from the scene, though some may choose to remain in their vehicles until the road reopens, team member Steve Owers said earlier. | |
| He said: "All the private motorists have been taken to Bowes or Brough, and we'll now be talking to the HGV drivers to see if they're happy to remain. | He said: "All the private motorists have been taken to Bowes or Brough, and we'll now be talking to the HGV drivers to see if they're happy to remain. |
| "Then we'll search the side roads for any motorists who may have become stranded after trying to bypass the A66. Many alternative routes are equally treacherous." | "Then we'll search the side roads for any motorists who may have become stranded after trying to bypass the A66. Many alternative routes are equally treacherous." |
| The incident followed 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: "At the request of police, we helped evacuate a large number of people from the scene, including 40 pensioners from a coach party. | Neil Sterio, from the Highways Agency, said: "At the request of police, we helped evacuate a large number of people from the scene, including 40 pensioners from a coach party. |
| "About 15 children, who I believe were with a school party, were also rescued." | "About 15 children, who I believe were with a school party, were also rescued." |
| 'Quite scary' | |
| Simon Wilson, from the Castle Hotel in Brough, was among those receiving people freed from vehicles. | Simon Wilson, from the Castle Hotel in Brough, was 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." |
| Sheila Rose, one of the rescued motorists who was taken to a hotel in Brough, told BBC News: "At the time it was quite scary, the weather just changed so quickly. | |
| About 25 lorries remained on the A66 late at night | |
| "It was just a flurry of snow and then it became quite hazardous where you couldn't see in front of you. | |
| "The traffic just came to a standstill and my husband was driving and he said he didn't want to put the brakes on because you're going downhill a little bit and there were quite a few cars hitting each other." | |
| People are being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. | People are being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary. |
| Anyone who does should pack food, warm clothes and a shovel in case high winds cause snowdrifts, according to the Highways Agency. | Anyone who does should pack food, warm clothes and a shovel in case high winds cause snowdrifts, according to the Highways Agency. |
| Widespread frost | |
| Those worried about stranded relatives can call Durham Police's hotline on 0191 3860098. | Those worried about stranded relatives can call Durham Police's hotline on 0191 3860098. |
| Schools across the North closed early and in south Cumbria about 1,000 properties were left without electricity, after falling 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. |