Snow in Lincolnshire brings travel disruption

People have been told to leave extra time to get to their vaccination appointments

Coronavirus vaccination centres in Lincolnshire remain open despite heavy snow causing traffic disruption.

More than 30 collisions have been reported and a number of vehicles have come off the road, according to Lincolnshire Police.

However, health officials said Covid-19 vaccinations would still go ahead for those with pre-booked appointments.

An amber warning for snow in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber is in place until 14:00 GMT.

There could be as much as 15cm (6in) in parts of the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber, particularly over the Lincolnshire Wolds.

• Latest weather updates from across Lincolnshire

• More heavy snow forecast for parts of UK

Martin Fahy, director of nursing with the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We've not had to close any of the vaccination centres because of the weather today, but we will make sure we'll get good advanced notice out there to people so they know, but hopefully that won't be the case."

People with an appointment have been told to give themselves extra time to get there due to the conditions on the county's roads.

The county council said community Covid-19 testing was also continuing.

More than 30 schools in Lincolnshire have been closed to all children due to the weather.

People have been told to reschedule essential journeys if they can

Analysis

Paul Hudson, BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire climate correspondent

The intense cold from the Baltic region is now firmly established. This cold air is picking up moisture as it comes across the relatively mild North Sea, forming continuous lines of snow which can often last for several hours. It is for this reason that the Met Office upgraded the warning to amber as such situations can cause large accumulations of snow in a short period of time.

Although the warning expires at 14:00 GMT, further bands of snow are likely to continue to form and spread inland over the next 24 hours with the possibility further warnings may need to be issued in due course.

An amber warning for snow remains in force until 14:00 GMT

Lincolnshire County Council's network resilience manager Darrell Redford said gritting teams had been out several times.

He said it was also likely the county's farmers would be asked to help pull stranded vehicles off blocked roads.

"We might have to get some tractors out to give them a pull and get them moving. Once they get stopped and stuck it's difficult to get them moving again."

Roads closed include the A158 (Horncastle to Partney) and the A153 (Louth to Horncastle).

As well as the 30 collisions, Lincolnshire Police's force control room tweeted reports of 18 hazards on the county's roads since 07:00 GMT.

It urged drivers to take care and allow extra time for essential journeys.

The force has also asked drivers not to remove road closed signs as it had received reports of them being moved on the A153.