Hull Smith & Nephew site damaged in heavy snow

Snow and ice are believed to have caused the roof of the Smith & Nephew plant to shift

A medical products plant in Hull has closed until next week after heavy snow damaged the roof.

One hundred workers had to leave the Smith & Nephew wound management site after ceiling tiles fell in on Thursday night, the company said.

The entrance roof of the Tesco store at Glanford Park in Scunthorpe collapsed on Friday under the weight of snow but no-one was injured.

Both happened as up to nine inches (23cm) of snow fell on East Yorkshire.

Roger Teasdale, president of advanced wound management at Smith & Nephew, said: "As a result of the severe winter weather, last night the roof of one of the buildings on the Smith & Nephew Hull site sustained snow damage.

"Our main priority is the safety of our employees and we are pleased to report that there were no injuries.

"However, as a precautionary measure and to ensure the safety of employees and visitors, the Hull site will be closed today [Friday]."

He said the site was due to reopen on Monday after inspections over the weekend.

Humberside Fire and Rescue confirmed it was called to the Tesco store in Scunthorpe.

The store was evacuated after the incident.

In Grimsby, Nunsthorpe Community School will be closed all next week because heavy snowfall has caused serious damage to the building.

Hospitals plea

NHS bosses in Hull and East Yorkshire said the ambulance service was "under a huge amount of pressure".

"If people have relatives in hospital who are ready for discharge then it would be a massive help if they can come and collect them, providing they can do this safely," a Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust spokesman said.

"This will help to clear beds for the weekend for new inpatients."

And health officials in North East Lincolnshire said there were increasing numbers of elderly people needing medical help after falling in their own homes because of hypothermia and hypoxia.

A spokesman for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said about 44 volunteer drivers had helped transport patients and staff around the area in the severe weather.

Meanwhile, 330 schools in East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire closed on Friday as temperatures plummeted to -12C in parts of the region.

Both the Grimsby Town and Hull City football matches on Saturday have been called off.

Friday night's Madness concert at the Hull Arena was also postponed. The band's website said tickets remained valid and a new date would be released within seven days.