Dartmoor: Snow day-trippers urged not to visit the moor

Cars parked nose-to-tail on Dartmoor have sparked warnings by police

Visitors have been urged to stay away from snow-covered Dartmoor after vehicles got stuck and "poor parking" led to the closure of a main road.

Police said they were "forced to escort a doctor taking Covid-19 vaccines to a Princetown care home" because roads were blocked by parked cars.

Overnight snowfall lured many families to the Devon beauty spot.

The B3212 is closed between Yelverton and Princetown due to "treacherous conditions", said police.

Conditions on Dartmoor are deteriorating said police

Officers in Tavistock said more than 50 vehicles were "at a standstill" due to parked cars on either side of the road.

"Police had to escort a doctor because of the heavy traffic to attend a care home in Princetown with Covid-19 vaccines for the residents of the care home," they said.

Tavistock officers tweeted: "Members of the public take our advice and do not come up to the moors to see the snow - motorists are now getting stuck and traffic ground to a halt.

"If you can't get through the road nor can we or any emergency service."

A pony braves the weather on Dartmoor

Devon and Cornwall Roads Traffic Police tweeted: "The snow conditions on Dartmoor are deteriorating at present, visibility now seriously reduced in parts.

"Please drive safely and if you are visiting consider leaving soon."

Phil Starkey tweeted a video from Sharpitor showing parked vehicles on both sides of the road, saying: "God help anyone that needs an ambulance in the Sharpitor/Peek Hill area of #Dartmoor this afternoon!"

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Nye urged people to "please be careful on the roads".

Drivers have been urged to be careful on the roads after a spate of accidents amid icy conditions