UK snow: Winter weather causes travel disruption

Motorists struggled with the icy conditions in Cheadle, Staffordshire

Snow has hit parts of the UK, including northern England and Scotland, causing travel disruption.

As well as rush-hour chaos in towns, some rural roads were closed and motorists found themselves stuck in their vehicles.

The Met Office has a yellow severe weather warning for snow for much of the UK until early Thursday morning.

Forecasters said milder temperatures as high as 12C (54F) in south-west England would follow later on Thursday.

City gridlock

Humberside Police said dozens of drivers were stuck in snow on high ground in East Yorkshire.

Snow ploughs and gritters tried to rescue drivers and some motorists abandoned their vehicles.

Police said the worst was now over but they were concerned about ice overnight.

They were due to reopen the A1079 Arras Hill at Market Weighton which is the main route between York and Hull.

Snow brought gridlock to some towns and cities in West Yorkshire during the evening rush hour.

West Yorkshire Police said the worst areas were on the Pennine roads above Huddersfield.

Drivers became stuck in the snow in East Yorkshire

The force said the A635 Greenfield Road at Holmfirth would remain closed until Thursday morning.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "There are road closure signs in place but some motorists have been seen removing them and driving on.

"They are being warned by officers that this is very dangerous due to the bad weather conditions on this road."

Also closed were the A6024 Woodhead Road and A640 New Hey Road.

There was traffic chaos in Leeds on Wednesday evening, and problems were also reported in Sheffield, York and Nottingham.

Flood threat

In Scotland, a man was taken to hospital after a nine-vehicle crash in Aberdeenshire.

Four lorries, two vans and three cars were involved in the collision on the A96 near Huntly at about midday.

Grampian Police warned people to take care in difficult conditions on the roads.

The Met Office's yellow warning means "be aware".

BBC weather forecaster Helen Willetts said: "The snow is turning back to rain and that's causing a problem with icy roads because the rain is falling onto very cold surfaces and freezing, and there could well be further disruption."

She said the thaw could lead to some localised flooding.

The Environment Agency had eight flood warnings in place for England and Wales, and more than 100 less serious flood alerts. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had one flood alert.