Snow closes runway and schools as warnings extended

Airports have been forced to shut their runways and children across the UK are having snow days as parts of the UK have been blanketed in more than 10cm (4in) of snow.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport closed its runway on Wednesday morning as snowploughs struggled to clear the ice and snow.

The Met Office has issued snow and ice warnings for the whole of the UK until 11am on Wednesday, which have been extended until midday on Friday for most of England and Wales.

Scotland, which was hit the heaviest on Tuesday and is expected to get the most snow on Wednesday, will get some relief by Wednesday afternoon.

A fresh weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday which could break this winter's current record low of -10.8 (12.6F) and bring up to 10cm of snow to parts of southern England.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Berkill said the weather front on Thursday will follow the band of snow, rain and sleet which hit the country on Tuesday night.

Mr Berkill said: "Looking further ahead, it's what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive.

"It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow. We have already got a warning out in force for it.

"It's currently just a yellow warning, but it's not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time.

"It's looking like it will be a spell of persistent snow."

The snow swept in on Tuesday, with the highest snowfall seen in Tulloch Bridge, Inverness-shire, with 11cm (4.3in), and Spadeadam, Cumbria, with 10cm (4in).

As it continues into Wednesday motorists were told to expect delays on roads, and rail and air travel may also be affected.

Liverpool Airport warned of flight delays on Wednesday morning as it worked "hard to clear the runways", urging passengers to check with your airline and allow plenty of travel time to get to the airport.

Merseyrail revised its earlier information, saying only the first services on Wednesday would not run so they could clear the tracks of snow and ice, after initially saying trains would only run from 11am.

There is a chance some rural communities could be cut off due to the weather, the Met Office warned.

North Wales Police said on Wednesday morning that conditions in many areas are "further deteriorating" due to snow causing problems for drivers.

The Local Government Association has said councils across the country are prepared with 1.4 million tons of salt, hi-tech gritters, and street cleaning teams ready to keep roads safe.

On Tuesday, Cumbria Roads Police told people to "please slow down" as it shared an image of a car overturned between junctions 36 and 39 of the A6 near the village of Shap.

Drivers were also warned to make sure they and their vehicles were prepared for the weather before they set off.

A motorist who was driving a snow-covered car with a just a small square of windscreen cleared was stopped by police in Caithness in the Highlands.

The driver was given a fixed penalty notice.

Police said: "It is important before you set off to make sure your windows are clean, properly demisted and clear of all snow and ice before you drive."

In the Highlands, 10 schools were closed on Tuesday due to bad weather.

Staff at the Grains Bar Hotel in Oldham tweeted that flakes were "coming down thick and fast" in Greater Manchester.

By 7pm on Tuesday, snow was beginning to settle as far south as Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.

Jordan Cosby captured images of the freezing conditions in County Durham, and wrote on Twitter: "The snow hasn't stopped since first light this morning... but a few inches of snow wasn't going to stop these locals from getting out!"

Tuesday's snow came after temperatures dropped to -7C (-19F) in the Highlands overnight on Monday.