Snow: Motorways shut amid treacherous conditions

Snowy conditions have shut the M54 carriageway

Motorways were closed after heavy snowfall caused a series of crashes and left drivers in treacherous conditions.

The M54 between junctions 3 and 2 in Shropshire was shut on Sunday, while major congestion was also reported on the M5 slip road to the M6.

The southbound M5 in Gloucestershire was shut after a multi-vehicle crash between junctions 11A and 12 near Quedgeley, National Highways said.

Trains across the West Midlands were also hit by delays.

Central Motorway Police Group urged people not to travel

Pictures taken at the scene by emergency services staff showed the M54 carriageway blanketed in a layer of snow as drivers faced 35-minute delays.

The crash site was eventually cleared and the motorway was reopened.

Warwickshire Police instructed drivers to avoid taking to roads near the village of Halford "unless it is a life or death emergency" after nine accidents in 10 minutes.

Road closures were put in place on A3400 (Mill Lane) and B4455 (Fosse Way).

Officers earlier advised people to avoid travelling in the Stratford area following several crashes on icy roads.

Residents in Malvern woke up to find parts of their town covered in snow

A spokesperson for the force said: "Until the roads are clearer, please ask yourself if your journey warrants putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk."

In Herefordshire, two schools announced they would be shut on Monday due to the severe weather.

Lea Primary School and Gorsley Goffs Primary School, both near Ross-on-Wye, said snow and ice were causing problems.

Visitor attractions were also affected on Sunday, with the National Trust's Charlecote Park in Warwickshire closed due to snowy and icy conditions and Stratford's Victorian Christmas market was cancelled.

On the trains, problems were reported between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town, West Midlands Railway said.

Due to a fault on the line, services between the two stations had been cancelled with disruption expected to continue until the end of Sunday, West Midlands Railway said.

Train delays were also reported between Crewe and Chester, but services later resumed.