As it happened: West Midlands snow disruption

1. Hundreds of schools remained shut on Friday after heavy snow overnight
2. There were problems on motorways and other roads in the West Midlands
3. Birmingham Airport runway reopened after flights disruption
4. The Army were brought in to assist in the Staffordshire Moorlands
5. A number of visitor attractions were closed due to the severe weather

Our coverage of snow disruption

This brings to an end our live coverage of a second day of snow disruption across the West Midlands.

After another night of snowfall, the white stuff is melting in the region under sunnier skies.

But despite a break from the snow, temperatures are set to drop this evening, leading to warnings about ice, with drivers advised not to make unnecessary journeys.

BBC local radio will continue to bring updates as and when there's something you need to know, and you can also stay up to date with the latest forecasts here.

As schools remain shut on Friday afternoon, we wish you a safe evening and weekend.

Thank you for joining us.

Snow 'won't stop Sunday's Shrewsbury 10k'

Organisers say the snow won't stop a planned 10k race in Shrewsbury on Sunday.

"As it stands, the race is going ahead," Simon MacDonald explained. "They're not getting out of it.

"Hopefully the snow should be melted by Saturday morning with a tropical temperature of 10C by Sunday morning."

The event is due to start at the Quarry at 09:00 GMT and finish in the same location, with some road closures in place for the duration, Mr MacDonald said.

The current forecast for Shrewsbury suggests there will be light rain on Sunday, however a yellow weather warning for snow and ice is for now in place overnight on Saturday.

More of your pictures

BBC Weather Watchers

Judging by our BBC Weather Watchers pictures, some of the snow around the West Midlands is now beginning to melt under sunnier skies.

Here are a few of your shots...

Beefy

Beefy in Dudley posted this wrapped-up snowman

Kee

Piglet the baby guinea pig enjoys the snowy Nuneaton scene, shared by Kee

Snapper Simon

Snapper Simon captured this image in Church Stretton, Shropshire

Panman

Panman took this shot of Weobley in Herefordshire

'Tough decision' to close schools

BBC Weather Watchers

A headteacher has said deciding to close schools is "tough".

Hundreds of schools are closed across the West Midlands because of the snow, including all 10 of the Marches Academy group.

Julie Johnson is the headteacher at Shrewsbury Academy and says there have been "lots of conversations" this morning before closures.

"It's a really tough decision because you want to keep the school open at all times of course but you have to think about the safety," she said.

"It's the drive in, have I got enough staff, we've got a lot of staff that live rurally and are we putting our staff at risk by asking them to drive in? We've got to look at the whole picture."

However Ms Johnson added the school would still be setting work for pupils to do.

"We've learnt a lot from Covid, we can do live lessons, we can set online work, we can send work to students," she explained.

"So for the students there will be the light of a snow day but there will be an expectation that we'll be providing work to be completed."

At least 600 schools closed

Children go sledging in Cofton Park after heavy snow

At least 600 schools in the West Midlands are closed on Friday due to snow.

About 220 of them are in Shropshire, with both rural and town schools affected.

There are also more than 100 closures in Sandwell and almost as many in Warwickshire.

The true figure for the region could be much higher though, with many schools informing parents directly and not posting the information online.

Care workers battle through the snow

Care companies are doing their best to get to clients across the region, mostly depending on staff in their own cars to complete daily visits.

Rachel Wintle from New Dawn Care Agency told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We've had to jiggle calls around, so we might not get out to do someone's first call until just before lunchtime when the roads are slightly clearer. And I've currently got a carer whose car is stuck, so we're trying to get her out and about again.

"They're out there in conditions most people would look out the window and go 'you know what? I'm not going out there today'."

Responding to offers of help from 4x4 drivers, Ms Wintle said they should contact their local homecare agency, which might be able to pair them up with a carer to make calls.

Bin collections continue to be affected

Oprah Flash

BBC News, West Midlands

Councils across the West Midlands have warned residents that refuse collections may be delayed due to the weather conditions.

Walsall Council

In Birmingham, the local authority tweeted: "Conditions are worse than yesterday morning - so it is likely there'll be further disruption to bin collections today."

Issuing similar warnings, Coventry City Council, South Staffordshire Council and City of Wolverhampton Council thanked residents for their patience and advised them to leave out their bins.

Walsall Council thanked its crews for "battling difficult working conditions" in order to make collections.

Work continues to clear airport runway

Work to clear snow and ice from the runway at Birmingham Airport continues, the site says.

Birmingham Airport

We told you earlier this morning how the airport had reopened its runway after a one-hour closure to clear it.

The airport's website showed that three flight departures were cancelled before 09:00 GMT, with four others delayed.

Two arrivals were also cancelled.

Birmingham Airport

Army called in to help emergency services in Staffordshire

The Army has been called in to help rescue vehicles that have become stuck in deep snow on the A53 and A523 near Leek in Staffordshire, police say.

Police officers are working with fire and rescue services after receiving "multiple reports" of trapped motorists.

Despite the operation, an earlier declaration of a major incident for the Staffordshire Moorlands area has been scaled down.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service

"Both roads remain closed to ensure public safety and specialist rescue vehicles have been deployed to the area, including support from local farmers and agricultural vehicles," said the Staffordshire force.

Gritters and snow blowers were deployed overnight.

Assistant Chief Constable, Rebecca Riggs, said: “Emergency services are doing everything possible to get to those in need and bring them to safety as quickly and effectively as possible."

Videoman

The fire service said it was dealing with "dangerous amounts" of snow.

Rob Barber, from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A number of emergency services are doing everything at their disposal to get to those in need and bring them to safety."

Drivers were urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it had not treated any patients.

Dachshund through the snow

Riyah Collins

BBC News

It's day two of Crufts at the NEC near Birmingham and more dogs are braving the chilly weather.

PA Media

Wirehaired Dachshunds arrive ahead of the second day of the Crufts Dog Show

On Thursday, we brought you pictures of the pooches hoping to be Best in Snow but today there's been time for fun and games.

PA Media

PA Media

Reuters

The annual dog show at the NEC is running until Sunday.

What's the snow like in Coventry?

Richard Williams

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

BBC

Spencer Park, Coventry

If yesterday was happy snow, today is unhappy snow.

In Cheylesmore in the south of the city, cars are travelling very slowly - maybe about 20mph.

Busier roads like the ring road have been pretty well used this morning but on the side roads, snow is starting to settle and people are making the decision not to travel.

BBC Weather Watcher Lynn sent in this photo from Coventry earlier and more sleet and snow is expected in the city until about 11:00 GMT.

Lynn / BBC Weather Watchers

Roads "treacherous and impassable"

Police are warning motorists in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire to make only essential journeys - and to wrap up warm if they do.

Fresh warning of ice issued

As the snow clears away later, according to current forecasts, ice is expected to be a hazard throughout the day and into Saturday.

ss

Staffordshire Moorlands: 'Not as bad as Storm Arwen'

A farmer on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands says she has managed to keep her flock of sheep safe, despite heavy snow still falling in the area.

Herdwicks of Highfields Farm

Kate Barker, owner of Herdwicks of Highfields Farm, in Onecote, said high winds had caused large snowdrifts with which the sheep sometimes struggled.

"The wind sweeps it off fields and just dumps it," she explained.

Herdwicks of Highfields Farm

The herd of native Herdwicks were "quite happy" outside, she added, "it's just whether they do shelter by the walls".

The animals had access to a shed, she explained, but "when we went out this morning that was full of snow".

Herdwicks of Highfields Farm

An amber warning for snow is in place for the area until midday, with the weather set to ease later.

Mrs Barker, and husband Nev, have previously had to dig out their flock from drifts after last year's Storm Arwen.

"This hasn't been as bad but you've always got that at the back of your mind," she told the BBC.

Will the snow last?

Sara Thornton

BBC Weather

Laura and Glenn / BBC Weather Watchers

Meet Twiggy in Oldbury

The snow and sleet is clearing away through this morning and most of the West Midlands will be dry and sunny this afternoon.

However, ice will become a real concern overnight as temperatures are likely to fall as low as -6°C (21F).

BreakingMoorlands major incident scaled down

Bevsy86 / BBC Weather Watchers

Staffordshire Police has confirmed heavy snowfall in the Moorlands is no longer being treated as a major incident.

Officers from the force as well as neighbouring Derbyshire Police are at the scene on the A53 between Leek and Buxton and the A523 between Leek and Macclesfield.

The force said Staffordshire Fire and Rescue as well as West Midlands Ambulance Service were also in attendance.

Further updates from the emergency services are expected.

Hundreds of schools closed in Shropshire

Wild One / BBC Weather Watchers

A large number of primary, secondary and special schools have been forced to close across the county due to bad weather.

Check here for schools in the Shropshire Council area. There's information on this page for schools in Telford and Wrekin.

Some schools have said they will be offering remote learning.

Your snow, your snaps

BBC Weather Watchers

The BBC Weather Watchers have already been busy sending in their photographs of the West Midlands....

Burt

Here's Birmingham by Burt

Snaphappydave

Snaphappydave captured this bunch in Kinver, Staffordshire

WarwickshireMidlandsWeather

This was the scene in Wolston, Warwickshire earlier

Shropshire Liam

This brave soul was captured in Dawley, Telford and Wrekin

Gunsidebill

Meerbrook in Staffordshire has a good coating of snow

Birmingham Airport runway reopens

The runway at Birmingham Airport has reopened after being cleared of snow.

"The airport is working together with your airline, and handling agent, to get you on your way following the #snowclosure," the airport has just tweeted.

Helen Earth

White-out skies above Birmingham Airport on Thursday. After flight disruption on Friday, the runway has been cleared of snow and declared open

School closures in Coventry and Warwickshire

BBC Radio CWR

We've had confirmation the following schools are closed in the area this morning:

• West Coventry Academy
• Westwood Academy in Coventry
• WMG Academy in Coventry
• ​Coundon Court in Coventry
• Baginton Fields School in Coventry
• Ashlawn School in Rugby
• Holton School in Rugby