Transport and schools hit as roads are blocked

DRIVERS faced severe problems getting to work yesterday as snowfalls blanketed large areas of the country.

Snow fell across an area stretching from just north of London as far north as West Yorkshire. Northern Ireland and central and north Wales were also affected.

The A57 in Derbyshire was closed, as was the A64 Huddersfield to Rochdale road.

In north Wales, the A542 was blocked, as were minor roads in Powys, Mid Glamorgan, Clywd and Gwynedd.

In North Wales, the A470 was blocked at the Crimea Pass. In Clwyd, the Horseshoe pass was shut, along with the A525 at Llandegler.

Roads across the Pennines were blocked as snow continued to fall and several train services cancelled. The Snake and Woodhead passes were blocked.

Northern Ireland had its heaviest snow of the year. Some flights were delayed and ferries to Scotland suspended. A number of schools had to close.

In Cumbria some towns were almost cut off, with drifts several feet deep. The A590 was blocked.

Bus services in Greater Manchester and Lancashire were decimated and many schools were closed for the day.