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UK travel news - LIVE: Snow and ice cause road closures and flight cancellations across Britain

Yellow warnings for snow and ice were in place across parts of the country

Helen Coffey,Cathy Adams
Friday 01 February 2019 18:37 GMT
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Passenger films snow covered airplane window as Manchester Airport shuts due to cold weather

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Bitterly cold temperatures are swept the UK on Friday, alongside heavy snowfall, ice and freezing fog, particularly in western England.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice were in place across parts of the UK, with overnight temperatures falling to almost -13C in Scotland.

The Met Office warned that road and rail journeys could be disrupted due to the cold weather. Flights were also affected as airports struggled to clear snow.

Further snow and ice are expected.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings of snow and ice for most of the UK on Tuesday into Wednesday.

Up to 10cm of snow could fall at higher levels in some areas, with one to two cms expected on lower ground.

Samuel Osborne29 January 2019 20:00

Forecasters said a band of rain will push from west to east which could fall as rain, sleet or snow, particularly at peaks in Wales and northern England and Scotland.

As the day progresses the wintry weather will move across the Midlands and into the South East.

Samuel Osborne29 January 2019 21:24

Snow showers could return on Wednesday and there is a risk of further disruptive snow and ice to parts of the country towards the end of the week.

Motorists faced difficult driving conditions on Tuesday morning as snow and sleet fall in some areas.

Samuel Osborne29 January 2019 21:54

There are snow and ice warnings across the UK this morning, warns the Met Office, as temperatures hover around freezing.

It advised motorists to watch out for ice during this morning's rush hour.

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:21

The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder has this update from Merseyrail:

Rail travellers in Merseyside have had a confusing start to the morning. In the early hours, Merseyrail warned: "No Merseyrail services will run until approximately 11am. This is due to ice affecting the electric third rail. Trains will be re-introduced as soon as rail conditions improve.”

But shortly after 6am the train operator said: "The rail conditions are not as bad as originally expected. The first services from all stations will be cancelled, but trains are expected to run after these cancellations.”

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:24

In snowy or icy weather, Network Rail has a special winter fleet to ensure that trains keep running.

Watch its snowplough train in action...

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:27

Greater Anglia, which runs trains between London and destinations in East Anglia, has warned that there may be speed restrictions this morning due to the ice and snow forecast.

It advised customers to check their journey before travel.

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:30

Snowfall is affecting flights from Liverpool Airport.

Customers flying to or from Liverpool Airport should check the website for regular updates.

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:35

The RAC has warned of the possibility of ice on this morning's commute, advising drivers to reduce their speed and leave more space for the car in front.

“Drivers face some treacherous conditions as some truly wintry weather finally descends on large parts of the UK," said RAC Breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said.

“Rain will quickly turn to sleet and snow through Tuesday afternoon, making driving conditions challenging. We strongly recommend drivers reduce their speed and more than double the amount of space between themselves and the vehicle in front, giving them more time to react if they need to.

“But the bigger problem for most drivers is likely to be the threat of ice overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning’s commute. Roads and pavements will freeze overnight, leaving glass-like surfaces that will increase the risk of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians running into difficulties.

“Before setting out, it is vital that motorists check their car is up to the task of coping with the more wintry conditions – many breakdowns are preventable with the right preparation. Spending a few minutes checking over tyres, together with oil, coolant and screenwash levels could save hours stuck at the side of the road in the cold."

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:42

Eurocontrol, the central air traffic control organisation in Europe, has warned that snow is causing delays in European airports.

Separately, low-cost Spanish airline Vueling has warned that some flights might be affected due to adverse weather conditions in Europe. It advised customers to check their flight on the website before travel.

Cathy Adams30 January 2019 07:48

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