Travel chaos as big freeze bites

A street with light snowForecasters have predicted cold conditions across much of the UK

Severe weather warnings are in place for many parts of the UK, as snow and freezing temperatures bring more travel chaos.

Hundreds of drivers spent much of the night stuck on the M6 in Greater Manchester after a lorry jack-knifed.

The arctic conditions threaten further disruption on the roads, railways and airports on the last weekend before Christmas.

British Airways cancelled all flights out of Heathrow between 1000 GMT and 1700 GMT.

All passengers on BA flights were advised not to travel to the airport on Saturday, the airline said.

Problems were reported on several motorways overnight, including the M61, M58 and M57, as 20cm of snow fell in north-west England.

Commuter Stephen Derbyshire, who was stranded on the M6 for five hours, told BBC Radio 5 live: “It is absolute mayhem.”

The M6 and M61 reopened at around 0700 GMT after junctions 22-27 and 6-8 respectively had been closed.

Police have advised people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Easyjet cancelled all flights in and out of Gatwick Airport until 1000 GMT and expects further cancellations and delays throughout the day.

A Gatwick spokesman said flights to Amsterdam, Geneva, Munich and Copenhagen had all been disrupted.

In Cardiff, staff who work at University Hospital Wales are being urged to contact their wards to see if they are able to help over the weekend because the weather has hit staffing levels.

Heavy snow is forecast in Northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England.

Overnight, temperatures fell as low as minus 13C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and minus 11C at Gatwick.

Up to 10cm of snow is expected later across southern England and Wales.

BBC weather forecaster Daniel Corbett said: “South-west England and the southern counties of of England will bear the brunt of this storm.”

In Northern Ireland, where conditions on Friday were said to be the worst in 25 years, the situation is expected to improve slightly with only a few snow showers expected.

Other problems caused by the weather include:

Bristol Airport was closed for snow clearance but Belfast International airport reopened at 0030 GMT, although delays are expectedRail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains cancelled some services on SaturdayA number of weekend football fixtures have been cancelled and the National Hunt meeting at Haydock was abandonedA cannabis factory in Leicester has been exposed by the wintry weather because heat lamps inside melted the snow on its roofAn urgent appeal is being made for blood donors, particularly those who are O negative, as stocks are running lowCompanies have warned of a backlog of deliveries which may not reach customers before ChristmasTransport secretary Philip Hammond says distributors of heating oil are hoping to clear their delivery backlog in the next few days, following fears it may need to be rationed

Heavy snowfall during the past few weeks has caused huge disruption, especially in Scotland and north-east England.

On Friday, at least 800 schools in Wales, 500 in Scotland and 700 in Northern Ireland closed.

New Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown has insisted Scotland is “very well prepared” and the authorities are doing all they can to keep trunk roads open.

Mr Brown’ s predecessor Stewart Stevenson resigned after his department was criticised for its handling of the problems caused by the previous bout of severe weather.

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This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Which celebrity will dance off with the Strictly prize?

Strictly Come Dancing finalistsMatt Baker is the favourite to win ahead of Kara Tointon and Pamela Stephenson.
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The three Strictly Come Dancing finalists are preparing to battle it out to be crowned this year’s winner.

Countryfile presenter Matt Baker is the favourite to take the glitterball trophy ahead of former EastEnder Kara Tointon and psychologist Pamela Stephenson.

Baker said on Friday an ambulance could be needed if his athletic final routine goes wrong.

The programme starts on BBC One at 1900 GMT, with the results show at 2105 GMT.

The presenter also paid tribute to his dancing partner Aliona Vilani, who has followed him around the country while he films Countryfile.

“We’ve trained from here to the Outer Hebrides in the most ridiculous situations,” he said.

“It has been an incredible challenge for us. We have come up against an enormous amount. We’ve trained in barns, in community halls, in tiny little car parks – everywhere to make it happen every Saturday.”

Stephenson, who described herself as “chronologically advanced” and is the oldest contestant to ever reach the final, said she was proud of her performances which have seen the judges give her perfect scores twice.

“It’s perfectly possible to be athletic and enjoy dancing at this age but I suppose I was one of the people who thought that couldn’t happen and I’m very glad to be proving it wrong,” she said.

For their final performances, Baker and Vilani will be performing to the Bodyrockers hit I Like The Way You Move, while Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev will dance to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now and Stephenson and partner James Jordan are entering the floor to (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Ice worry over snow-covered roads

University Hospital of Wales

Some hospitals are appealing to off-duty staff to work if they can

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Drivers are being warned to stay off the roads after thick snowfall in Wales freezes as temperatures plunge.

Many motorists seemed to heed warnings on Saturday to travel only if necesary as up to 20cm (8in) fell in some areas.

But breakdown services said Wales was still one of their busiest areas, with abandoned cars adding to disruption.

There were widespread icy roads as forecasters predicted temperatures as low as minus 10C (14F) overnight.

Major routes in Wales were open on Saturday but stretches of the M4 remained treacherous throughout the day and the A470 near Merthyr Tyffil was all but impassable earlier.

The assembly goverment has invoked its 24-hour “snow desk”, but says it has enough road salt with more stock due in a week.

The snowfall led a number of health officials to ask drivers with 4×4 vehicles to help take health workers in after many were stuck at home.

Overturned carThis car overturned on Penglice hill in Aberystwyth

The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, Univerrsity Hospital Llandough, Royal Glamorgan at Llantrisant, Prince Charles in Merthyr and Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor all asked off-duty staff to come in if possible to relieve colleagues.

On one floor of Nevill Hall hospital in Abergavenny, at least seven workers stayed overnight.

The Loughor and Rhossili coastguard rescue teams took seven key medical staff, including two midwives, to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, and a duty doctor from Aberystwyth was taken to Dolgellau Hospital.

Bus company First Cymru cancelled many services across south and west Wales, and National Express services from Swansea were also suspended.

The A487 between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth was closed to all vehicles, there was a foot of snow on the A44 from Aberystwyth and Llangurig, and the A484 from Cardigan to Newcastle Emlyn was described as passable only in 4×4 vehicles and with extreme care.

Sporting fixtures have fallen victim, with Monday’s fixture at the Ffos Las racecourse in Carmarthenshire already called off.

The Cardiff City Championship home game against Burnley was off, but the Swansea City away game against Sheffield United went ahead, although the visitors lost 1-0.

Gated parks and cemeteries in Cardiff closed on Saturday although city centre Winter Wonderland near the City Hall reopened at midday.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.