Disruption as snow returns with ‘risk to life’ warnings

A BLANKET of snow covered Britain again yesterday as temperatures plunged and transport ground to a halt.

Nearly 130 flights to and from Heathrow, Gatwick and Newcastle airports were cancelled as forecasters gave amber warnings of a possible “risk to life” in north-west England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, London and the South East.

The M25 was brought to a standstill anti-clockwise yesterday evening after an air ambulance attended a crash just before 3.30pm. Accidents also caused congestion on the M4 in Wiltshire and the A57 Snake Pass in Derbyshire which was closed due to snow and “multi-car accidents”, Highways England said.

The Met Office issued amber “be aware” warnings across much of the UK until today. Swathes of the east of the UK were expected to see more snow overnight, as temperatures plunged to about 23F (-5C) in parts.

Emergency services evacuated homes in the coastal village of Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, yesterday after harsh tidal waves hit the cliffs below. The Duke of Cambridge had to cancel his planned trip to the Wales v France Six Nations game in Cardiff.

Forecasters said the snow, feeding in from the North Sea, spread westwards across to the Midlands and parts of Wales yesterday, with temperatures feeling as low as 18F (-8C). Snow and winds are expected to ease by tomorrow, but there is a chance that some rural areas could become cut off with disruption to power supplies and vehicles stranded, the Met Office warned.

It added that while some areas would get small amounts of snow, bands of 2in to 4in ( 5cm to 10cm) are likely, with a chance of 6in (15cm) over high ground.