Monday's snow: As it happened (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

2:48pm

2:48pm

4:25pm

4:23pm

4:22pm

TRAVEL LATEST: Snow and rain to bring more disruption

As forecast snow has fallen across much of central and northern Britain, bringing disruption in some areas.

Met Office forecasters are expecting a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow over southwestern areas overnight and on Tuesday.

The battle between the cold air over the UK and mild air trying to push in from the Atlantic brings the risk of both rain and snow in from the west overnight.

Rain falling onto frozen surfaces brings the risk of ice in some areas, while snow could again bring disruption to south Wales and parts of western England. 

Met Office Severe Weather Warnings have been issued for the ice and snow.

Amber warnings remain in place for heavy snow across the higher ground of northeast England and eastern Scotland where the snow will drift in the strong easterly winds.

Yellow warnings are in place for ice and snow across parts of south Wales and western England, and the public are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings and plan ahead if they are travelling.

Martin Young, Met Office Chief Forecaster, said: “The atmosphere is finely balanced across southwestern areas of Britain, with some places seeing heavy rain and others seeing heavy snow on Tuesday.

“There is some uncertainty about exactly where the boundary will lie and everyone should continue to be aware of the risk of severe weather and plan ahead for possible travel delays and disruption to transport.”

Met Office weather warnings help you plan, prepare and protect yourself and others from the impacts of severe weather. An amber warning means you need to be prepared for the weather and take steps to change your plans and protect you, your family and your community from the impacts of the severe weather.

The wintry conditions will continue through the rest of the week but most places will be dry. There will be sharp night frosts and temperatures not rising much above freezing by day mean it will stay icy in many areas. 

By thinking ahead we can all be better prepared for severe weather. Throughout the winter, the Met Office works with agencies across the UK to help keep the country safe, well and on the move.

2:19pm

1:43pm

1:43pm

One of our Twitter follwers @Vickibate sent us in this picture of a snowy Runcorn...

1:40pm

1:38pm

1:36pm

Are you enjoying the snow? Why not take part in our ballot here:

11:23am

Now here's a couple of happy hounds! This is Holly and Chester enjoying the snow in Town Hall Park, sent in by reader Nicola:

11:20am

Another wintery Runcorn scene, sent in by one of our Twitter followers @heyitsamb_ :

11:18am

A snowy Runcorn, sent in by reader Suzanne Jackson...

11:08am

11:07am

10:39am

Here's a happy snow lady sent in by reader Jennifer Chambers...

10:35am

MOTORING NEWS: Snow on cars could prove costly for motorists

 Motorists who fail to clear snow from their cars risk penalty points and a fine and will also nationally waste hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fuel by driving off with added weight on the roof.

As many parts of the country shiver under heavy snow falls, Halfords research reveals that almost one in five, equating to nearly 6 million motorists in the UK don’t remove the snow from their cars before setting out.

While most people clear snow from their windscreen and rear window and even their drive, many leave the roof of their cars untouched. This could lead to prosecution for careless or inconsiderate driving if they were involved in an accident.

Situations where this could occur include; snow left on the roof falling forward onto a driver's windscreen, obscuring the view. Or similarly if the snow falls off backwards causing a hazard for motorists travelling behind.

Snow on the rood also reduces fuel efficiency. Experts at Halfords discovered that a 4 inch, overnight fall of snow on top of an average sized car roof typically adds 35kg to the weight of their vehicle. This could cut fuel efficiency by 2% if people drive off without removing it. Nationally this means drivers could be wasting £110,000 by burning extra fuel every time it snows, Halfords experts calculate.

Police warn the fixed penalty for driving with an obscured windscreen is three points and a £60 fine, but the consequences can be far greater if snow from your car is deemed to have been a factor in an accident. Rule 229 of the Highway Code states:

• Before you set off you must be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows.
• You must ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible, make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly.
• Remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users.
• Check your planned route is clear of delays and that no further snowfalls or severe weather are predicted.
Halfords winter motoring expert Alan Rennie said: “Driving with snow on your car roof could land you with a £60 fine and three points on your licence. It could be even worse if you are involved in an accident because of snow falling off your car - if police chose to prosecute for careless or inconsiderate driving.

“But on top of that, now we know it will cost motorists money to carry that extra icy weight around with them. Our research should give all drivers that extra incentive to remove the snow from most parts of their car, not just the windows, before they set off. It’s very simple to use a snow brush and clear the roof.”

10:34am

10:30am

Morning and welcome to our live snow blog.

We will be keeping you up-to-date throughout the day on the situation.

You can keep in touch by emailing barbara.jordan@nqnw.co.uk tweet us @runcornworld using #runcornsnow or call us on 0845 603 7854