Schools being urged to open
The Met Office say overnight sleet and snow showers falling onto frozen roads will give widespread ice on many roads and pavements this morning with locally treacherous conditions.
People are being are advised to take extra care and refer to the Highways Agency for further advice regarding traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads.
Councils have been using about 60,000 tonnes of salt daily and supplies have been running short. The Highways Agency and local authorities have agreed to cut use of grit and salt by 25%.
The government has ordered salt from abroad but this is not due to arrive until 21 January.
Ealing Council say their priority has been to keep major arterial roads and bus routes open, but gritters have now also covered all secondary routes.
Gritting and salting has been taking place on footpaths and pavements in priority areas, such as the main shopping areas and around schools and hospitals.
More schools in the borough managed to stay open on Friday and parents are advised to check with the individual school if it will be open on Monday.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls says they should do "everything they possibly can" to open in the cold snap so pupils can sit their exams.
He said head teachers were best placed to make the decision, but it was vital to try to ensure valuable lessons were not missed or exams disrupted.
Thousands of schools have been shut during the cold snap, but GCSE and A-level assessments are due to be begin.
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January 10, 2010
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