Snow closes roads and schools in Cornwall

Traffic has been gridlocked and schools closed after blizzards in the west of Cornwall.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning, saying 5cm (2in) of snow was expected in places.

Snow and hail was expected to affect the west of the county again on Monday afternoon, it added.

The A39 Falmouth to Truro road was closed at Cove Hill because of ice and stranded vehicles. Highways bosses said they were working to keep roads open.

One lane of the A30 is blocked at the Chiverton Cross Roundabout and there has been a two-vehicle crash at the junction with the A3047 at Redruth.

The BBC Travel News website is reporting hazardous driving conditions in the area.

Stranded passengers

Loscombe Road, in Four Lanes, is also closed in both directions between the B3297 junction and the Carn Brea junction.

There have been reports of heavy snow at Ludgvan, Helston, Penzance, Highgate Hill, Carnon Down and Constantine.

Police said there had there had been many minor incidents on affected roads.

One car was left on its roof near Budock when it was involved in an accident while driving on a hill.

Motorists have been advised by police not to take to the roads unless it is necessary.

Devon and Cornwall Police have taken conventional patrol cars off the road and are relying on their fleet of 4x4s.

One car was left on its roof near Budock

Some bus passengers were stranded for three-and-a-half hours in Perranwell, near Perranarworthal. The village hall was then opened to offer hot drinks to travellers.

Cornwall Council's highways department said it had 18 gritting lorries patrolling the roads in the affected areas.

Forecasters expect the snowfalls to clear by midnight on Monday, but ice could cause further problems on roads with temperatures expected to drop to -3C.

More than 100 schools, colleges and nurseries have either closed or had lessons disrupted.

Cornwall Council has issued a list of schools that are closed and some which are opening late.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust said it had implemented its severe weather plan and that its hospitals were operating as normal.

Cuts meeting delayed

A volunteering organisation said it was looking for 4x4 owners experienced at driving in snow to help people who still had to get around

Andy Brealsford, from Volunteer Cornwall, said the group was keen to make sure that there was a network of people across the county who could help in severe weather.

He said: "We're looking for those who would be prepared to help more vulnerable people such as elderly people who could not get around; and key personnel, the likes of doctors, trying to get to work."

The weather is also affecting events and meeting due to be held later in the week.

A full council meeting of Cornwall Council was due to be held on Tuesday to discuss an emergency budget to cut £170m over four years.

It had been postponed until Friday 3 December, the authority said.