Freezing weather shows no sign of letting up

The freezing weather shows no sign of letting up with more snow forecast for the rest of the week. Hundreds of schools are closed in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north-east of England.

The Local Government Association says councils have increased stockpiles of salt and grit but hundreds of motorists are trapped in their cars in Scotland. Gritting lorries servicing icy roads were attacked by youths in Londonderry on Sunday. The window of one vehicle was smashed and a number of roads in the Creggan and Gobnascale areas of the city went untreated as a result.

There were further heavy snowfalls in Scotland overnight and traffic is backed up for several miles on the A9 between Dunblane and Perth after several lorries jack-knifed. The M62 between junction 34 and junction 38 in West Yorkshire was described as "hazardous" while one of the main routes into the centre of Sheffield, the Parkway, was said to be "treacherous".

A Highways Agency spokesman said one lane of the eastbound M4 at the Severn Crossing had been closed as a precaution after ice started to form on the bridge.He said the road had now been reopened but added: "It is Monday morning and the advice that we issued last week still stands - be aware and be sensible. If the weather is bad, make sure you have got an emergency kit in the car and think about whether the journey is absolutely necessary."

BBC broadcast meteorologist Philip Avery warned plummeting temperatures overnight on Monday were likely to lead to icy roads in many places, while the strengthening winds will make it feel even colder. The UK has been experiencing the earliest widespread snowfall since 1993. Met Office severe weather warnings for icy roads - and snow in places - are effective across central and eastern Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland. Warnings of heavy snow are also in place along the entire east coast of England, as well as in Cornwall, with more expected throughout Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Avery said the worst weather would be in central and eastern Scotland and north eastern England but added: "There is a likelihood of wind in the northern half of the British Isles picking up in strength leading to more significant drifting."

For some regions Monday's forecast is for a nicer day, he said, but he warned the biting winds would have an impact and make it feel colder. The Greater London area and Kent are at risk of snowfall from Tuesday, with the Met Office warning drifting snow could cause disruption to road and rail networks towards the end of the week.

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source: BBC