Snow Falls Again As Wintry Weather Returns

Fresh snowfalls and gale force winds are again causing disruption in parts of the UK, just weeks after severe weather caused transport problems and closed hundreds of schools.

A band of snow, which hit Scotland on Tuesday morning, is expected to continue moving down the country and is predicted to reach East Anglia before the end of the day.

Falls of up to 10cm (3.94in) were expected in places by this afternoon, along with 60 to 70mph winds.

Earlier Tuesday, the snow caused gridlock in northern parts of the country, with traffic in Sheffield reduced to a standstill.

Sky North of England Correspondent Mike McCarthy said the city was brought to an "absolutely grinding halt" for a number of hours.

"Just before rush hour, the rain came very heavily and washed away the grit. That then froze on the ground and then there were very sodden and intense blizzards in Sheffield," he said.

McCarthy said it was a very difficult time for people trying to get to work.

"Hundreds of people were stuck in the snow. Journeys that would normally take half an hour took between two and three hours."

He added schools in Sheffield closed or opened late because of the snow.

To the northwest, Manchester Airport was forced to suspend runway operations for a period on Tuesday morning to clear snow.

Two flights were cancelled, while another was diverted to Liverpool, as flurries made their way south.

The snow is also expected to hit the South East later in the day but is more likely to fall as rain in London. Strong winds mean blizzards are likely.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning - to "be aware" - for severe weather in large parts of the country.

The Highways Agency has urged caution on the roads but said motorways and A-roads were running well.

A spokesman said the A628 Woodhead Pass, in Derbyshire, was closed following visibility problems.

The cold weather is expected to cling on during the next few days with temperatures dipping to -4C overnight.

Snow showers are expected to ease off in many regions on Wednesday, largely affecting the North Sea coastal areas and the western fringes of England and Wales. They are likely to stay put over Scotland all week.

Wintry conditions brought parts of the country to a standstill at the end of January.

Hundreds of drivers were forced to spend the night in their cars on the M6 in Lancashire after more than a foot of snow fell.

The cold snap was followed by widespread floods caused by melting snow and heavy rain.