Wednesday 1 December 2010

BBC News - Gatwick Airport stays closed as fresh snow predicted

1 December 2010 Last updated at 18:12

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Gatwick Airport stays closed as fresh snow predicted

Cars in the snow in Ashford, Kent The snow has caused huge traffic delays across the country

More heavy snow warnings have been issued by the Met Office as the wintry weather continues to cause disruption to air, road and rail travel.

All flights at Gatwick have been halted until 1000 GMT on Thursday and ice is causing problems on England's roads.

Met Office heavy snow warnings are in place for the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, the North East, the East and London and South East.

Up to 15cm could fall in places on Wednesday evening and into Thursday.

Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Essex are expected to see some of the heaviest snow overnight.

One motorist told BBC Surrey it had taken her more than eight hours to travel from Guildford to Epsom Downs.

Sonali Whitlock said: "We are a developed nation, yet when we have snowfall, it all falls apart."

Operations cancelled

Supt Chris Moon of Surrey Police said the county's conditions were the worst he had ever seen and were likely to deteriorate further.

He added: "I have put out several severe weather warnings in my career, but this one I really must stress."

Motorists have been urged to only make essential journeys in the county.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said services and access to East Surrey Hospital at Redhill were restricted, and warned people only to go there if absolutely necessary.

Barnsley Hospital, in South Yorkshire, has closed its outpatients department and cancelled non-urgent operations for Wednesday and Thursday because of the snow.

While in nearby Sheffield, Tracy Gell decided to cancel her wedding at the city's town hall due to the extreme weather.

Some residents of Binbrook in Lincolnshire said the village was virtually cut off because of the heavy snow.

In Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, health chiefs were using 4x4 vehicles to collect staff unable to reach Diana Princess of Wales Hospital.

Many schools are closed as temperatures struggle to get above 0C.

There is also disruption at London City Airport, Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster, Leeds Bradford Airport and Durham Tees Valley Airport.

HM Courts Service also warned that several courts in Yorkshire and the East Midlands had been shut because of the weather.

Met Office forecaster David Price said: "It will remain bitterly cold today with the strong north-easterly winds continuing to bring snow showers and making temperatures feel as low as minus six or seven degrees."

He said the snowy conditions would continue on Thursday but Friday should see a reprieve, with more snow on the way during the weekend.

Travel disruption includes:

  • In Surrey, police warned people in the Reigate and Leatherhead areas not to travel
  • Up to 400 lorries were stranded on the M25 in Kent and Surrey on Wednesday morning. Drivers are advised not to travel on the motorway
  • In South Yorkshire, bus services have been cancelled in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster
  • In the South East, there are no trains between London Victoria and Dartford, Charing Cross and Hastings and between Strood and Paddock Wood
  • There are no flights in or out of Gatwick Airport until 1000 GMT on Thursday at the earliest and delays at London City Airport
  • Durham Tees Valley Airport has suspended flights until further notice
  • Heathrow is expecting disruption later to inbound flights because of problems at other airports
  • The Humber Bridge in East Yorkshire is closed and train and bus services are severely disrupted across the Humber region

Gatwick Airport spokeswoman Sarah Baranowski said the runway was closed at 2230 GMT on Tuesday.

She said ground staff had worked throughout the night but had not been able to clear the settling snow.

"It is vital that passengers do not make their way to the airport and check our website and with their airline for updates," she said.

Overnight, Southeastern said that at least three of its trains were stuck for about five hours due to problems with ice and snow.

About 60 passengers were affected when night trains travelling from London to Kent became stuck in the Orpington and Sevenoaks areas.

In Sheffield, Ian Cawthorne, 25, and Alecia Houghton, 22, battled through snow to travel by tram to their wedding ceremony at the city's Town Hall after their cars failed to turn up.

However, two other couples who had been due to marry at the same venue had to cancel their ceremonies.

The UK has been experiencing the earliest widespread snowfall since 1993.

The unusual weather is being caused by high pressure over Greenland and low pressure in the Baltic states, forcing cold winds across Europe.

Have you been stranded by the snow? Have your travel plans been disrupted by the weather? Send us your pictures and comments using the form below.

via bbc.co.uk

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