People Urged Not To Use Roads ‘Unless Essential’

People are being urged not to travel today unless it is absolutely necessary, after yesterday’s heavy snow and freezing conditions overnight left many roads treacherous and some impassable.

Police were called to assist drivers last night who got stuck in snow on the A427 near Dingley and others had to be rescued on the A47 near Houghton on the Hill and on the B6047.

Drivers stranded on the A427 near Dingley last night.
Pic: Leicestershire Roads Policing Unit

Yesterday saw the heaviest snow in the Hfm region for nearly three years, with up to ten centimetres settling in places.

Volunteers from Leicestershire and Rutland 4×4 Response have been helping Police get through snow to the scenes of emergencies and assisting drivers whose vehicles got stuck in the snow in rural parts of Harborough.

They also helped tow an NHS lorry carrying essential supplies through the snow near Shepshed.

Spokesman and volunteer Nigel Spencer spoke to Hfm:

Volunteers from Leicestershire and Rutland 4×4 Response tow an NHS supply lorry through the snow near Shepshed

VIDEO: Leicestershire and Rutland 4×4 Response

Farmers are also being praised for helping to clear rural roads by turning their tractors into snow ploughs.

CJH Aggregate were called in to help clear roads near Mowsley, to enable milk lorries to get through Pic: CJH Aggregate

Pic: Leics & Rutland 4×4 Response

Pic: Leics & Rutland 4×4 Response