Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Drivers are being urged to take care on the M6 southbound near junction 12, close to Cannock, as police warn of "lots of black ice".

The Central Motorway Police Group says a number of vehicles have already come off the motorway, external this morning but they say there have been no serious injuries.

Image source, Central Motorway Police Group

Vehicles have been abandoned after snow and icy conditions forced several main routes in the Peak District to be shut.

They include the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Macclesfield and Buxton and the A53 between Leek and Buxton.

Image source, Cheshire Police

Cheshire Police says several vehicles were abandoned on the Cat and Fiddle overnight and a man in a van was saved after getting stuck., external

Train services across England, Wales and Scotland will be severely affected by overnight blizzards from Storm Emma and the remnants of the so-called "Beast from the East". We will have an update on which train companies are affected shortly.

BBC Newcastle

Some drivers had to spend the night in their cars on the A1 in north Northumberland.

Chris was among those we spoke to and he explained how bad the situation was.

He said: "I've not seen conditions like it. Snow drifts of 10 feet are no exaggeration. I've driven past it.

"It really is amazing."

Gordon Thackeray, of Highways England, added: "We've had big problems with drifting.

"It's been very challenging for our drivers."

This was one of the photos Northumbria Police tweeted yesterday to show how bad conditions were on the A1.

Image source, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE

Image source, PA

National Grid's first "gas deficit warning" for eight years has been withdrawn.

The power operator issued the warning on Thursday, saying it might not have enough gas to meet demand due to the current cold snap gripping the UK.

The warning was a call to the market to boost supplies.

National Grid said in an update, external: "With immediate effect the Gas Deficit warning issued for gas day 01/03/2018 has been withdrawn."

The BBC's Sarah Keith-Lucas provides the latest weather forecast after Storm Emma affected large parts of the UK.

In south-west England and Wales amber warnings for snow and high winds remain in place.

Northern Ireland, eastern Scotland and the north-east of England could still see between 5-10cm on Friday as snowy weather continues.

About 4,000 properties in Wales and south-west England - served by electricity firm Western Power Distribution - have been left without power due to the adverse weather conditions.

The company said it was dealing with 38 incidents across its power network.

An ambulance service has asked 4x4 drivers to help ferry their paramedics and staff in Hampshire, one of the areas hit by blizzards caused by Storm Emma.

South Central Ambulance service, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire asked anyone with a four-wheel drive to come to their base in Otterbourne.

Here are the latest updates from overnight blizzards and snow which hit large parts of the UK:

• The Army has been called in to help rescue hundreds of drivers stuck in snow on the A31 in the New Forest
• Somerset Constabulary said about 100 vehicles had become stuck on the A303 at Ilminster
• On the M62, volunteers from Milnrow, Rochdale, have been taking hot drinks, food and blankets to some of those stuck - including a bottle of warm milk for a five-week-old baby
• There are 10 severe weather warnings in place for the UK. The final warning is in force until 23:55 GMT on Monday
• In Edinburgh, troops were deployed to transport 200 critical care hospital workers to and from their shifts at two hospitals on Thursday evening
• Across south-west and north-east England,, external and south Wales, external there are flood alerts and warnings
• Severe disruption to rail networks are expected across the UK's rail network, external

Dozens of volunteers have been helping drivers left stranded on the M62 for more than 10 hours.

Local residents in Milnrow, Rochdale, came to their aid, bringing hot drinks, food and blankets to people stuck on the carriageway.

Eleanor Kelly, 19, said about 30 people had braved the conditions to take supplies up the hill to the motorway.

She said she found one man in a car with two small children - one of them a five-week-old baby.

Greater Manchester Police are warning people not to drive this morning unless it's essential.

Rest centres have been opened at Oldham Fire Station and Butterworth Hall at Milnrow for those unable to get home.

A number of drivers are stranded on the A62 near Delph - emergency services are working to reach the vehicles.

The A62 Huddersfield Road heading out of Greater Manchester is blocked by HGVs and police say there's no estimated time for the reopening of the M62, currently closed at Junction 21.

Traffic on the eastbound A31 in the New Forest has finally begun moving again after it was closed for nearly 10 hours.

Hundreds of motorists were trapped in their vehicles on the dual carriageway near Ringwood in freezing conditions.

Many people abandoned their cars and lorries at the side of the carriageway after running out of fuel.

Police declared a major incident and brought in military vehicles and other equipment to help free the road, but it will take some time for the backlog of traffic to clear.

Advice from the RSPCA on how to look after your furry, and feathered, friends during cold weather.

The Met Office red 'danger to life' warning covering south-west England and south Wales has now been lifted, but amber and yellow warnings remain in place for much of the rest of the UK.

Heavy snow is forecast, along with strong easterly winds, blizzard conditions and snow drifts.

Hampshire Police said emergency services were continuing to deal with a "major incident" on the A31.

The force said they were unable to move the vehicles off the carriageway for "at least the next few hours" but were working to evacuate the most vulnerable people from the scene.