Snow latest: Widespread disruption to travel

12:10pm Thursday 8th February 2007

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Some schools closed due to heating problems, while others decided to shut because it would be too difficult for pupils and staff to get to classes.

Bus and rail services were disrupted and driving conditions were difficult for motorists with fresh snow falling during the morning rush-hour.

Traffic was slow on the A34 after a lorry hit the central reservation between Kidlington and Peartree interchanges.

There were five accidents on the A43 near Silverstone, while motorists suffered slow traffic on the A4260 at Deddington Hill.

On the A44 at Enstone seven lorries were unable to get up the hill because of the slippery road service and a jack-knifed lorry held up traffic on the A40 at Burford.

Brian Short, area engineer for Oxfordshire County Council highways department, said gritting lorries had been out on the main roads during the night.

He said: "Around ten to 15 centimetres of snow has fallen as predicted. We salted roads before the snow last night and have continued to salt as traffic has moved the snow and turned it into sludge.

"The Drayton depot holds around 3,000 tonnes of salt and last night and during the early hours of this morning more than 300 tonnes of salt has been scattered on Oxfordshire roads.

"The advice to motorists is drive only if necessary. If journeys can't be avoided then drive slowly and carefully and avoid minor roads."

The department's offices were opened earlier this morning. Anyone with any problems should contact 0845 3101111.

West Oxfordshire District Council suspended its recycling collection, but said it would reassess the situation later.

• The Going 4 It careers fair, which was due to be held at Cooper School, Bicester, tomorrow, has been postponed. A new date will be announced for the event, now in its sixth year, in which dozens of companies from across the Bicester area give hundreds of schoolchildren a taste of different careers.
• Wantage Day Centre in Stirlings Close, Wantage, is closed for the day.
• The Oxfordshire Museum in Fletchers House, Park Street in Woodstock, is closed for the rest of the day.