Snow drifts and ice making driving conditions extremely hazardous

  • Anglia

Snow drifts and ice are making driving conditions extremely hazardous across the region, causing a number of incidents on the roads.

Police in Norfolk dealt with more than 150 calls and 20 crashes yesterday. They include:

  • · Jack-knifed lorry on A134 – road is currently closed between the Mundford roundabout on the A1065 and the A11

  • · Two-vehicle RTC on the A143 at Belton

  • · Lorry blocking the A146 at Hales

High winds during the night have caused snowdrifts Credit: ITV News Anglia

High winds during the night have caused snowdrifts to quickly engulf roads, leaving vehicles stranded and many roads impassable across Norfolk.

They are urging motorists to avoid the following roads:

  • · The A140 between Pulham and Long Stratton in both directions

  • · The A1075 between Shipdham and Watton in both directions

  • · The A134 at Mundford in both directions

  • · Reepham Road in Norwich both directions

  • · Northern Distributor Route at its junction with the A140

Suffolk roads, including main trunk roads have been blocked overnight as a result of snow drifts Credit: ITV News Anglia

Drivers stranded in the severe weather conditions are being urged to call police on 101 or 999 if they feel in danger.

Police are still urging drivers to only travel if "absolutely necessary".

Chief Inspector Sonia Humphreys said: "We keep repeating the message but it’s never any less important and it always remains the same: drive to the road conditions and please only make the journeys that you absolutely have to.

"We are still finding lots of motorists using stretches of road that are extremely treacherous and many of the cases we’ve dealt with overnight have been due to snow that has very rapidly drifted onto a road, submerging it and leaving it inaccessible in a short space of time.

"It’s not a case of how suitable your vehicle is or how good a driver you are; many of these incidents happen without warning and the only way to avoid them is by not being on the road in the first place. Roads in more rural locations are particularly badly affected, with some areas still impassable at present."

Emergency services have responded overnight to multiple weather related incidents Credit: ITV News Anglia

Heavy snow across the East has fuelled a sharp rise in crashes, stranded drivers and insurance claims.

The AA said East Anglia was one of the worst places in the country for damages.

They received more than 100 calls from drivers stuck in snow in the last few days - with the conditions also hitting businesses hard.