UK snow leads to travel disruption

Stansted Airport in Essex had to close at 6am this morning, just as the first flights were due to operate. Aberdeen and Luton were among other airports where the wintry conditions caused delays, while a number of main line rail services and tube trains were delayed.

A Stansted spokesman said: “Northern Essex seems to have got the worst of the snow and we had to shut the airport at 6am.”

Stansted was able to open again just before 8.30am, but a spokesman warned passengers that some flights had been cancelled and others would be delayed.

Luton airport has also reopened while Heathrow and Gatwick remain unaffected by the wintery weather. Delays at Aberdeen have continued throughout the day.

Channel 4 News Weather Presenter Liam Dutton said: “Snow across south east England this morning won’t settle everywhere. If it does, it won’t stick around for long when the sun comes out a bit later.”

Read Liam's blog: Why is snow so challenging to forecast in the UK?

More than just a little bit snowy! twitter.com/ABZ_Airport/stâ?¦

— Aberdeen Airport (@ABZ_Airport) December 5, 2012

Rail and road delays

Snow and wintry weather is also causing delays on some rail and road routes.

No trains were able to run between Watford Junction in Hertfordshire and Harrow and Wealdstone in north west London, while snow caused disruption between London and Reading in Berkshire.

Trains were unable to run between Barnes and Hounslow via Brentford in west London, while there were delays between London and Ashford International in Kent and also between Sevenoaks in Kent and Hither Green in south east London.

There was disruption to many trains run by the Southeastern train company, with cancellations and delays of up to 45 minutes.

South West Trains’ Reading-London delays were as long as 90 minutes, while London Overground’s Watford Junction to Harrow and Wealdstone services were not due to restart before 10am.

Buses had to replace trains between Redhill in Surrey and Tonbridge in Kent.

Traffic information company Inrix warned drivers that many roads in the Home Counties were snow-affected, with the A505 blocked between Hitchin and Letchworth in Hertfordshire.

Among other roads with poor conditions was the A2 in Kent.

In the north east of Scotland Grampian police warned motorists to dirve with caution as snow and icy conditions affected a number of roads.

The A120 was one of the many roads in Essex to be affected by the weather. The A171 near Scarborough was one of Yorkshire’s snow-hit routes.

Scotland amber warning

Scottish commuters are being told to prepare for difficult conditions tomorrow as the Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow.

The Met office has warned of another cold night for Scotland with temperatures widely dropping as low as -6C and lower in more rural locations.

Transport Minister Keith Brown has confirmed that a multi agency response team will monitor the rush hour traffic and offer assistance across the transport network. Transport Scotland is also chairing an emergency meeting.