First winter snow causes disruption in north-west England

Summary

Snow and ice causing travel disruption across north-west England
Train delays and diversions in place
Several Transpennine roads are closed
Bus diversions in place in Rochdale and Bury

Live Reporting

Thanks for joining uspublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
That ends our live coverage for the day, but you can keep up with any further updates from across the UK on this page.
And if the snow has got you in a festive mood, you can find out more about the Christmas lights being switched on across the North West here.
Thanks for joining us and we'll leave you with the lovely photo of the snow-covered woods in Worsley, Salford, taken by BBC Weather Watcher LAD.
Image source, LAD/BBC Weather Watchers
Manchester Airport 'unaffected' by snowpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Manchester Airport handout
Manchester Airport says despite "a fair bit of snow" operations are running as normal mainly thanks to its army of snow-clearing vehicles and its de-icing measures.
The airport has a 30-strong fleet of vehicles fitted with ploughs, blowers, and brushes to clear snow.
Haslingden road remains closed after crashpublished at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Gemma Hill
Grane Road in Haslingden remains closed due to "adverse driving conditions", say police.
It has been shut since 22:30 GMT last night after a four-vehicle crash.
Lancashire Police says one man was taken to hospital after the collision but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Abandoned vehicles blocked gritters in Cheshirepublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team
Two vehicles abandoned overnight on roads in Cheshire prevented gritters from doing their work, says the county's rural crime team.
Image source, Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team
"Frustratingly they have ignored the road closed signs and a couple are now stopped right in the carriageway way which prevents the plough and gritter from being able to do its work on sections of the highway," Sgt Simpson posted on Facebook.
BBC Weather Watchers out and aboutpublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
More contributors to BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about in the region, capturing some beautiful scenes.
You can contribute your own images here.
Image source, Cheryl Doran/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Cheryl Doran captured a leafless tree sticking out from the snow in Bolton
Image source, Sunset Twilight/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Sunset Twilight took a picture of the snowy view across Reddish in Stockport
Image source, Ray/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Ray captured a snowy scene int he countryside near Chorley
Image source, Shaun F/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Shaun F took a picture of a snow-tipped avenue of trees in Oldham
Merseyrail services all cleared for usepublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Merseyrail says it ran its first services without passengers to check the lines were in working order.
It says some trains may be running slightly late due to "traction issues" but added it will post about any major alterations or cancellations as normal.
Motorways 'kept flowing'published at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Like Lancashire, it appears Greater Manchester avoided the most severe weather overnight.
"It was supposed to get really peak in the early hours but actually for some reason at that time it decided to travel a little bit further south," says Dee Murray of the National Highways North West.
"Areas like the M62 were really starting to get heavier, they cleared up.
"We had to shut the Snake Pass quite early on but the rest of network, certainly the motorway network kept flowing all night."
Quote Message
The motorway network kept flowing all night.
Dee Murray, Operation manager, National Highways
Lancashire 'escapes worst of the snow'published at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Lancaster University's Hazelrigg Weather Station says Lancashire appears to have escaped the worst of the snow.
Quote Message
I think the whole lot slipped a lot further south than it was forecast to.
Quote Message
If you looked at the radar yesterday on the Met Office website you could see it trying to edge in but then it just kind of never really made it.
Dr James Heath, Hazelrigg Weather Station
Stockport gritters out in forcepublished at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Stockport Council
The gritters have been out in force in Stockport overnight and this morning.
Councillor Grace Baynham, cabinet member for parks, highways and transport services, praised the team of 16-strong drivers who make sure the routes they treat have plenty of salt on them and are safe for drivers.
"We're as prepared as we can be but I would always advise everyone to do the same by checking the latest forecast before you travel and always driving according to the conditions, as even roads which have been gritted could be difficult during a snow shower."
She added: "I’d urge residents to take care at all times as conditions could be more difficult on untreated surfaces - please take care, reduce speed, keep your distance."
Driving tips in snow and icepublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
With warnings for drivers to take care as snow and ice hit the region, check out these tips on driving in winter weather.
BBC Weather Watchers go out into the snowpublished at 08:19
Contributors to BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about in the region, capturing some beautiful scenes.
You can contribute your own images here.
Image source, Chalstar/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Chalstar captured an idyllic scene in Bolton
Image source, Jean's Jewels/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Jean's Jewels took a picture of her snow-covered shed in Ashton-in-Makerfield
Image source, Redria/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
Redria captured an image of a snow-covered garden in Burscough
Image source, A Man For All Seasons/BBC Weather Watchers
Image caption,
A Man For All Seasons had a bit of fun writing a message in the snow in Aintree
Woodhead Pass closed due to snowpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
The A628 Woodhead Pass is closed in both directions between the A616 at Hollingworth in Greater Manchester and the A57 at Flouch in South Yorkshire due to snow, National Highways has said.
Road users are advised to use the M60, M62 and M1 as an alternative route.
Drivers are also advised to allow extra time for their journey.
"Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey," a representative said, adding that further information is available from National Highways on its Traffic England website, external.
Send in your snowy scenespublished at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Beverley/BBC Weather Watchers
Is it snowing where you are? You can send your photos to us at northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
Travel disruption as temperatures plungepublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
The snow and ice has caused travel disruption in the region:
- Train delays and diversions including all first services on Merseyrail and Stockport to Sheffield
- A number of Transpennine roads are closed, as well as the Cat and Fiddle Manchester Road in Whaley Bridge
- A crash has shut Grane Road in Haslingden
- Bus diversions are in place in Rochdale and Bury
Buses hit by weather conditionspublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Transport for Greater Manchester
Bus services in Bury and Rochdale have diversions in place due to the weather conditions, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said.
Services 456 and 458 will partially miss out Ramsden Road/Wardle and instead turn at the Hare and Hounds until further notice.
For the 480 service TfGM told passengers to use Bradshaw Road both directions and omit Tottington Road and Watling Street.
TfGM said it gritted bus stations and interchanges and trams were running through the night to keep overhead lines clear of frost.
It added platforms and crossings were also treated with grit and anti-icing measures to keep them safe for use.
Possible cancellation of Stockport - Sheffield trainpublished at 07:22 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
A points failure, external between Stockport and Sheffield has resulted in delays and possible cancellations to trains running on the line, Network Rail said.
Delays are expected until 8.30 GMT.
TransPennine Express said customers can use their tickets at no extra cost on the following services:
- Northern services between Sheffield and Leeds, to change at Leeds for services towards Manchester where onward connections can be made
- Cross Country services between Sheffield and Leeds, to change at Leeds for services towards Manchester
- Northern services between Sheffield and Huddersfield, to change at Huddersfield for services towards Manchester
Road closed after crashpublished at 07:13 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Gemma Hill
Grane Road in Haslingden is currently closed between junction 5 on the M65 and Holcombe Road due to a crash, say police.
Lancashire Police said: "The road will be closed for some time whilst we make sure the road is safe."
Warning to drivers during the cold snappublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, National Highways
National Highways is warning drivers to take care on the roads following sub-zero temperatures overnight.
A number of Transpennine roads are closed, as well as the Cat and Fiddle Manchester Road in Whaley Bridge.
National Highways said gritters had been out in force overnight. It warned drivers never to tailgate or undertake the vehicles.
Empty trains running on Merseyrail networkpublished at 06:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Image source, Network Rail
Specialist teams will be out de-icing the live rails that power Merseyrail's fleet of electric-powered trains.
Because the trains run on electricity on some sections of the network, the live rails must be kept in working order if the trains are to be receive the power they need.
Merseyrail has also said that the first services on Tuesday would run without passengers, to check that all the lines were in working order.
Meanwhile, staff at Network Rail will also be equipped with specialist kits to defrost frozen points and signals to keep the railway running safely.
Temperatures fell to below minus 3°C overnight.
'First taste of winter'published at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November
Snow and ice are causing travel disruption in the region in what the Met Office described as the country’s “first taste of winter”.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning, external from 19:00 GMT on Monday until 10:00.
As temperatures plunge cold weather plans for Merseyrail and Network Rail have been activated and drivers have been urged to take extra care on the region's roads by National Highways.