SNOW: live weather and travel updates (From Thisisdorset)

6:52pm

6:26pm

Bridport FC's home game tomorrow is OFF.

6:09pm

Temperatures are set to stay just above freezing TONIGHT according to the Met Office so more snow is looking unlikely.

But beware of the danger of ice particularly if temperatures do drop below freezing late tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow.

The Met Office says that temperatures will hover around freezing or 1 C ON SATURDAY although it will feel colder because of the wind chill factor. The Met Office is also warning of the danger of ice.

Temperatures are to plunge below zero on SUNDAY and the ice warning will stay in place for the morning.

Police are warning people to take care when driving and not to

travel unless necessary.

The Highways Agency says that the A35 is open. Most bus services are back on but expect some disruption.

Visit the Met Office website here to see the forecast.

And don't forget to email your snow pictures to news@bridportnews.co.uk.

5:00pm

4:59pm

4:47pm

Good news - First is now going through Martinstown. Ice is the main menace on the roads now....

4:46pm

4:45pm

4:26pm

4:26pm

Scratch that....still some probs on the buses. First says still unable to go via Martinstown

4:21pm

Email us your snow pics over the weekend to news@bridportnews.co.uk

4:21pm

Most roads are open and passable with care but drivers are warned to drive carefully. Most bus services are running but expect some disruption.

4:19pm

Temperatures are set to drop as night falls but most of the blizzards seem to be over.

No snow is forecast tomorrow but the Met office is warning of ice all day tomorrow and into Sunday morning.

Temperatures are set to stay around the zero mark or just a few degrees above.

Motorists are still warned to be extra careful and not to venture out unless absolutely necessary.

Visit the Met Office website here

3:43pm

Here's video shot by our photographer John Gurd

3:24pm

A railway exhibition at the Public Hall in Beaminster on saturday morning has just been cancelled, organisers tell us.

3:04pm

Great pic by our photographer Graham Hunt of action on the A35 near Litton Cheney

2:51pm

Lyme Regis Library was open this morning but now closed.

2:45pm

2:41pm

2:37pm

X53 and 31 bus services are now back in operation.

2:34pm

2:32pm

Traffic now flowing after A35 reopened in both directions between Dorchester and Bridport, a Dorset Police spokesman says.

1:47pm

The A35 and coast road are open but motorists are advised to take extreme care. Our photographer John Gurd has driven from Bridport to Weymouth on the coast road. he said that it is passable but that it fairly tricky around Abbotsbury.

1:20pm

South West Trains is advising passengers that a revised train service is planned for tomorrow as a result of the continued forecast for heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. 

Services for today (18 January) are currently operating in line with the special timetable in place.  Plans have now been announced to continue the revised timetable into tomorrow  with some further changes on certain routes.

Jake Kelly, Customer Service Director for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, said: “The snowy weather is causing disruption to road and rail transport in many parts of the country.  We have already seen snow fall on large parts of our network, however the special timetable we have in place is running well and means that trains have more time to cope with the poor weather conditions.  

“With forecasters predicting heavy snowfall throughout the rest of the day and freezing temperatures over the weekend, we’ve taken the sensible decision to continue running our revised timetable on Saturday 19 January.  The revised timetable helps us to ensure we can make the best use of our resources to deliver the most robust service for passengers.

“The timetable we can provide on Saturday 19 January will be slightly different to the service we’ve been able to offer today and services are expected to be busier than normal.  We’d therefore advise passengers to check the timetable before they travel and ensure they allow enough time to travel to and from the station.

“Our staff are working incredibly hard to keep as many trains running as possible as well as keeping depots and stations clear and safe, however we understand the impact this is having on our passengers and would like to thank them for their patience during these difficult conditions.”

Revised timetables are available online at www.southwesttrains.co.uk

12:59pm

Gritting trucks are currently out on Dorset’s roads.
They went out at 12 noon and will be back at 3pm, according to a Dorset County Council spokesman.
They will also be out overnight tonight.
The spokesman said: “We have a risk of everything freezing overnight as the temperatures are going to drop.”

12:58pm

Road on Abbotsbury Hill also now re-opened

12:58pm

A35 re-opened in both directions between Monkeys Jump Roundabout in Dorchester and Mitsubishi Roundabout in Bridport, because of an earlier jackknifed lorry.

12:57pm

12:25pm

Dorset County Hospital services are mostly operating as normal.

Chief Executive Jean O’Callaghan: “Many of our staff went to great lengths to ensure they got into work at the hospital today and their efforts are very much appreciated - we have been able to run the vast majority of our services as usual."

12:25pm

The military are assisting Dorset Police as they work to reach people in their cars in the worst-hit areas.

Farmers and Wessex Four by Four have also offered their help as conditions on the roads continue to be treacherous.

The military are helping around the parts of Dorset that are bearing the brunt of the weather, including Bridport, Dorchester, Swanage, Corfe Mullen, Blandford and Sherborne.

12:25pm

DORSET County Hospital has been able to run the vast majority of its services today despite the severe weather.

Chief executive Jean O’Callaghan said: “Many of our staff went to great lengths to ensure they got into work at the hospital today and their efforts are very much appreciated - we have been able to run the vast majority of our services as usual.”

11:31am

Paula Denham, our community correspondent, has sent in this pic from Corscombe. Thanks Paula! Send yours to news@bridportnews.co.uk!

11:26am

All household recycling centres are closed due to heavy snow. Looking ahead to the weekend, residents are advised to delay any visit until weather and road conditions improve. A further update will be provided when available.

11:19am

No let up in the snowfall on Bridport town centre but roads still clear and passable.

11:18am

Schools have been forced to close in East Devon and Devon County Council is advising extreme care. The council has warned people to expect problems on higher ground, although conditions are expected to ease during the day. Coun Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “County council teams have been working hard throughout the night gritting and ploughing main roads on our precautionary salting network. “The conditions are challenging this morning and most major routes are passable with care, but we are dealing with extremely hazardous conditions on some roads such as the A361, and we would ask people to bear with us. “Please do not make unnecessary journeys if it is not essential, but do take extreme care if you are travelling and where you can please keep to the main A and B roads and off of the minor roads.” Axe Valley Community College was declared open first thing but was forced to close as many staff were unable to make it in. St Mary’s and All Saints, both in Axminster, and Hawkchurch Primary are also closed.

11:01am

10:51am

Woodroffe School: Closed St Michael's Primary School, Lyme Regis: Open Mrs Ethelston's Primary School, Uplyme: Open Charmouth Primary School: Closed

10:50am

Latest information for services in Lyme Regis: Children's centre is open, library is open, Hallets Court Day Centre is closed.

10:44am

10:34am

West Dorset District Council’s South Walks House office are open.
Both are running a near normal service, including dealing with essential services like  homelessness and benefits enquiries, with the limited number of staff available due to the poor weather.
Anyone with non-urgent business is asked to visit the council at a different time if possible.
Many council services, information and advice is available online at www.dorsetforyou.com

10:25am

Reports on dorsetforyou.com that St Michael's Primary School is closed are INCORRECT. The Lyme Regis school is open, although some staff have been unable to get in.

10:25am

The lorry that jack-knifed on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas has been recovered.

The road is still closed between Bridport and Poundbury.

10:24am

More advice from Dorset Police, who are still urging people not to drive unless necessary.

Dorset Police and partners are working together to clear the affected roads as quickly as possible.

The A35 Dorchester to Bridport road is closed both ways due to the severe weather conditions.
The A35 Dorchester to Bere Regis has long delays due to the weather conditions.

Superintendent Dave Thorp said: “The roads in Dorset, especially west of the county, have been affected by the severe weather conditions.

“I urge anyone who is planning on travelling on the roads today to please reconsider and only travel if there is no other option.

”In particular, please do not take minor or country roads if it possible to avoid them.”

Monitor the traffic and weather conditions by using the Highways Agency website, Travel Dorset website, listening to DAB digital ‘Traffic Radio'.

You can also call the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30

10:22am

Colfox school and Beaminster school are closed totday.

10:13am

10:05am

Lorries stuck on Long Bredy Hill on A35.

Repotrs that conditions are treacherous all along the A35 with heavy snow and strong winds

10:04am

I've just travelled from Lyme Regis to Bridport with no problems. Lyme is clear, Fernhill has a good covering of snow but roads fine, A35 past Charmouth is good, Morcombelake is under snow but passable, Chideock is clear, main road through Bridport is clear.

10:01am

9:57am

9:49am

9:48am

Latest update from First Bus:

Snow has affected many services in the Dorset area:
Bus Services have been suspended in the Bridport and Yeovil areas.
In the Weymouth area:
Services 31 (Weymouth,Dorchester,Bridport,Lyme Regis, Axminster) is suspended.
Service X53 / X53
(Poole,Weymouth,Bridport,Seaton,Exeter) is suspended
Service 1 (Wey to Portland) - operating Weymouth to Wyke Regis and Victoria Square. Cannot serve the Isle of Portland due to road conditions.
Service 2 (Wey to Littlemoor) - operating normal route to Littlemoor, but unable to serve Canberra or Louviers, using main road only.
Service 3 (Wey to Hereford Rd) Suspended
Service 4 (Wey to Preston) Main Road only from Weymouth to Chalbury Corner (unable to serve Seven Acres or Sutton Pontz)
Service 5/5A (Wey to Southill/Lanehouse) Suspended
Service 6 (Wey to Wyke Village) Suspended
Service 8 (Wey to Chickerell) - unable to service Chickerell village - OK on main road only section from Weymouth to Chickerell Army Camp
Service 10 / X10 (Wey to Dorchester)Suspended
Service 387 (Poole to Dorchester) Servioe suspended

9:41am

9:35am

9:33am

9:29am

9:19am

Traffic at standstill on A37 at Warden Hill

Also repotrs of lorry stuck on A354 north of Puddletown bypass heading towards Blandford

9:18am

Mike Harries, Deputy Director Dorset County Council, says it is regrettable that Dorset for You website with all the school closures not working this morning "for reasons we don't fully understand at the moment." Technicians working on it.

9:18am

The latest on the roads from Dorset Police is that the A35 eastbound around Puddletown looks like it may be shut for some time.

The A35 westbound is now open but traffic is moving slowly due to hazardous conditions.

The coast road A357 is closed around Abbotsbury Hill.

The A37 is partially blocked at Yeovil, but is passable, and the A354 is blocked near to the Blandford bypass.

A Dorset Police spokeswoman said: ""We would advise people to travel only if absolutely necessary, and if they must venture out, to check the latest news on the roads before they leave and to drive with caution."

9:12am

The jack knifed lorry is at the Winterbourne Steepleton junction on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas. It has been moved to the site of the road but the A35 is still closed.

9:06am

The A35 is closed at Charmouth - also because of a jack-knifed lorry.

The A35 is also closed heading ast towards Poole.

8:51am

Jacknifed lorry at Winterbourne Abbas on the A35.

The A37 is passable with care but drivers are being warned not to venture out unless necessary.

See our list of closed schools here:

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/bridportnews/10170684.SNOW__Closed_schools_list_in_Dorset/

8:42am

Many schools and roads have fallen victim to overnight weather.

The A35 is closed from Bridport to Weymouth at the Monkey's Jump and Mitsubishi roundabouts.

The coast road is closed at Abbotsbury Hill.