UK weather: ‘Mini Beast from the East’ brings snow and ice to Britain causing travel disruption
Passengers urged to check information before travelling and drivers warned of treacherous road conditions
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Your support makes all the difference.Severe weather has caused travel disruption in parts of the UK as a wintry snap dubbed the “mini beast from the East” tightens its grip.
Road, rail and air travel have been affected by snow and ice and airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted have urged travellers to check flight information before travelling.
Drivers have been advised to take care in the treacherous conditions and police have warned there are no safe routes across the Pennines into Cheshire.
The Met Office has issued weather warnings for north-west England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, London and south-east England.
Snowploughs have been dispatched to the M62 after the weather brought traffic to standstill.
A number of train companies have warned of possible service disruptions, including on CrossCountry, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Heathrow Connect, Southern and Thameslink services.
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Cars in snow on Blackstone Edge near Littleborough in Greater Manchester (Danny Lawson/PA)
A stranded coach on Blackstone Edge near Littleborough in Greater Manchester (Danny Lawson/PA)
Police in Surrey have warned people to avoid travelling unless “absolutely essential”.
There have been accidents on the A3 and M3 this morning, with reports of cars abandoned near to the Hindhead Tunnel.
A number of flights in and out of Manchester Airport have been delayed or cancelled today because of the snow.
Lufthansa, Easyjet, Flybe and British Airways have cancelled flights.
Devon Police have said only essential journeys should be made to avoid becoming stranded in the snow.
Although the A38 and A380 routes over Telegraph and Haldon Hills are currently open, conditions are worsening and drivers have been advised not to travel in these areas if possible.
Staff from Whatton Manor Stud in the Vale of Belvoir as the wintry snap dubbed the "mini beast from the east" keeps its grip on the UK (Neil Squires/PA)
Gardner Chris Orton tends to the Crocus garden at Wallington Hall in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Horses are covered in snow on the hills surrounding Merthyr Tydfil in Wales (Ben Birchall/PA)
↵ ↵Although the Reading Half Marathon was cancelled because of the weather, around 100 people are believed to have braved the freezing temperatures and ice to take part in an unofficial run instead, organised on Twitter.
Derbyshire police have warned drivers to avoid travel in the area if possible.
A number of roads are closed because of the snow:
- A6024 Holme Moss
- A57 Snake Pass
- A53 Leek Road
- A54 Cat & Fiddle
- A5004 Long Hill
- A515 Buxton to Newhaven
- A623 Chapel to Baslow
- A624 Chapel to Glossop
- A628 Woodhead Pass
A yellow ice warning is in place for most of the UK until 10am on Monday.
The Met Office has said there will be “widespread ice” in the morning and wintry showers across eastern coastal areas, although it will be less cold.
The weather is expected to return to normal for this time of year on Tuesday.
A man pushes his bicycle past cars stuck in the snow in Coalville, Leicestershire (Reuters/Darren Staples)
A man helps to dig a 4x4 vehicle out of the snow (Reuters)
A man pulls a child along on a sledge near the Salisbury Charter Market in Wiltshire
↵The Met Office has issued new weather warnings for Devon and Cornwall as there is more snow expected overnight.
An amber warning for snow on Sunday night into Monday morning has been issued and a new yellow warning for ice has been put in place.
There is a “good chance” some rural upland communities could become cut off and disruption to power supplies is possible.
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