SNOWED TO A STANDSTILL
Drivers trapped for hours as 5in blanket brings roads chaos
A SECOND snowfall in a fortnight caused travel chaos for thousands yesterday.
Some drivers spent seven hours trapped in their cars as up to 5in brought major routes to a standstill.
But for children throwing snowballs, it just made their Christmas extra special.
Stranded motorists built snowmen in the central reservation of the A14 in Northamptonshire, while the snow even closed a temporary ice rink at Gloucester Quays.
The freeze hit commuters returning to work and families visiting loved-ones.
Forecasters warned of a spell of heavy snow bringing a further travel nightmare to the North tomorrow with rain and milder temperatures putting the Midlands at risk of flooding as the thaw sets in.
Police forces used social media to warn motorists to stay at home, as the weather also played havoc with rail and air passengers, while the RAC warned of ‘treacherous driving conditions’. As snow swept across central England early yesterday, thousands of people faced disruption, such as:
Major roads closed by accidents caused by snow included the M1 in Leicestershire and the A14 in Northamptonshire.
Up to 23,000 homes without electricity in the West Midlands and the South West as heavy winds and snow blew trees on to power cables.
Passengers faced two-hour delays at Luton Airport as aircraft were de-iced.
Problems on the railways with snow affecting lines in the Midlands compounded by strike action on some routes.
Stranded passengers at Stansted Airport showed their anger on social media.
In a tweet to easy-Jet, Fiona Thatcher said: ‘Hey we have been trapped on a plane for more than 3 hours. There are many children onboard. We got a cup of water an hour ago. Send help.’
Ryanair cancelled 30 flights because of the snow. A band of heavy rain on Boxing Day turned to snow across a swathe of England from the Peak District to Surrey.
Traffic ground to a halt on a slippery section of the A14 in Northamptonshire, with early morning commuters and lorry drivers stuck in their vehicles for seven hours or more.
Tara DeFabrizio said: ‘It’s a complete standstill. I’ve called to say I won’t be coming in.’ Trucker Simon Talbot said: ‘I’m on an incline and lorries in front are unable to get up the hill because of the snow.’ Jon Beaumont set off at 4am but was stuck for more than seven hours, tweeting: ‘Multiple collisions. Cars passing at 70+mph.’
Julie Brown posted: ‘ Been here since 4. Missed our flight. It’s a nightmare.’
Highways England said 2,000 tonnes of salt and grit was put on roads across the West Midlands alone overnight.
A lorry jack-knifed in snow on the M5 in Gloucestershire, a car crashed just after junction 18 on the M1 in Northamptonshire and Thames Valley Police posted an image of a car flipped on its side.
Elsewhere, two lanes of the west-bound M4 were closed at Hungerford, Berkshire, after snow caused an accident, and another jackknifed lorry on the A34 near Didcot, Oxfordshire, led to a five-mile queue.
Most homes that lost power were reconnected yesterday, but 2,000 across Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire remained cut off last night.