Drivers in Ceredigion warned to 'stay at home'

Aberystwyth University closed on Friday morning

People have been urged to stay at home in Ceredigion after the county was hit by heavy snow showers overnight.

Ceredigion council said road conditions were "severe" and drivers should not go out unless it was "essential".

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is shut and will remain closed on Saturday due to the weather. Aberystwyth University is also closed.

Powys has also been hit with 89 schools closed, while 49 are shut in Ceredigion.

It is thought to be the heaviest snowfall in Aberystwyth for at least a decade. The town usually escapes substantial snowfall due to its coastal location.

A 103-year-old man's funeral at the town's crematorium had to be cancelled because of the weather.

But his daughter Rose Spencer told BBC Radio Wales that her family still planned to go ahead with a wake at the Queen's Hotel in New Quay.

The National Library of Wales said it was closed to staff and visitors on Friday.

Heavy snow is making it difficult for traffic travelling up and down Penglais Hill, the road leading to the library and the university's Penglais campus.

Ceredigion council has appealed to drivers not to venture out unless "absolutely essential".

A spokesman said council gritting trucks and snow ploughs had been out since 1600 GMT on Thursday, and a back-up fleet was also in action.

He added: "The condition of the county's roads is so severe that, as yet, it has been a challenge for us to try and keep the primary road network open. We haven't yet had any opportunity to attend to routes not on the primary road network."

Powys council said the majority of the county had been hit by heavy snow overnight, and more showers were expected during Friday. It said gritters had been out since 0100 GMT.

A spokeswoman said 89 of its 117 primary and high schools were shut, while customer service points in Builth Wells and Ystradgynlais were closed.

Adverse conditions

For other services, such as libraries and leisure centres, residents are advised to phone to check if they are open.

Powys Local Health Board said its small hospitals were open, but the adverse conditions had caused "some disruption to staffing levels".

A spokeswoman said: "Some patients are calling in to cancel appointments which will be re-arranged. In mid Powys a four-wheel-drive vehicle is being organised for one of the district nursing teams."

Elsewhere, Arriva Trains Wales reported delays to services between Pwllheli and Shrewsbury, which could affect passengers in mid Wales.

Staff and students at Aberystwyth University were told to go home because of the adverse weather.