Snow back with a vengeance

Snow falls on Ironbridge today. Picture by Ian Sheppard

Heavy snowfall paralysed parts of Shropshire today as the county's worst snow for years wreaked havoc on the roads.

Driving blizzards left many routes, including the M54, in a treacherous condition or impassable while dozens of schools were closed again today. Up to 1ft (30cm) of snow fell on higher ground, while lower ground saw up to eight inches.

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Telford and Bridgnorth appeared to be the worst hit in the county, while Oswestry and Mid Wales escaped with just a few millimetres of snow.

In Telford & Wrekin, 31 schools were closed, along with 63 across the rest of Shropshire.

Powys County Council made the decision yesterday to close all schools in the county.

Meanwhile, bin collections in Telford have also been scrapped.

Emergency services were called to a number of crashes on the county's roads, as drivers lost control of their vehicles.

Telford's busiest road, the A442 Queensway, had to be closed after a car crashed into large catering lorry.

The lorry's trailer was blocking the roadway, but was moved and the road was clear by 7.20am.

A woman, believed to be in her 30s, had to be rescued from her car after crashing into a ditch on the B5062, half a mile from Harper Adams University College on the way to Tibberton.

Paramedics reached the woman shortly after 6.45am and took her to the Princess Royal Hospital for treatment for shock.

In north Shropshire, motorists crept over settled snow along main routes including the A53, while vehicles were seen skidding on roundabouts at both ends of the Hodnet bypass.

Inspector Mark Hatton, of West Mercia Police, urged motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

He said: "The weather is making driving conditions treacherous and we are warning motorists not to make any journeys unless they are absolutely necessary."

He also urged people to only call the emergency services "in an absolute emergency".

One motorist, who declined to be named, said the journey from Oswestry to Telford early this morning was a nightmare.

He said: "The road conditions were terrifying, you could barely see the road markings."

Another driver said it took more than an hour to get from Telford to Cannock.

John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, said the Midlands would be worst hit by the snow with up to 1ft expected to fall today on higher ground.

He said lower areas could see up to 8in (20cm) of snowfall.

Mr Warner said: "It looks as if it could go on well into the night, I am afraid.

"The problem we have got is there is even colder air coming from the north hitting this slightly less cold air.

"I think we are in the worst possible area," he added.

Meanwhile, bosses at Shropshire County Council have been told they will get no more salt for roads this week, having used 2,000 tonnes since the snow began falling on Monday.

Telford & Wrekin Council said today it had enough salt left to get it through the cold snap.

Powys County Council said it had already used more salt this winter than it had in any other year in memory.

Wrexham & Shropshire railways reported delays of up to 30 minutes on all routes to and from London Marylebone during the morning peak hours.