Warning to only travel if essential as road issues caused by snow reported across Northamptonshire

Road issues caused by the heavy snow have been reported all over Northamptonshire with drivers warned only to go out if essential.

Incidents relating to the severe weather have been seen on the M1 and A421 near Northampton, the A43 between Brackley and Northampton, the A6 near Higham Ferrers, the A14 and the A45 throughout the county.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue tweeted: "A reminder that you should only be making essential journeys.

"If you have to drive, slow down, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking."

Gritting crews were out at 5am to cover 43 per cent of Northamptonshire's road network with plenty of salt on the roads but it needs vehicles to drive over it to work effectively.

So with fewer journeys being made because of the coronavirus lockdown, motorists must drive carefully and never assume a road is gritted.

The snow warning from the Met Office is in place until midnight with snowfall predicted throughout the day in Northampton until 8pm.

Northamptonshire Police tweeted: “Due to the snow causing worsening road conditions across the county, Northamptonshire Police is advising people to think very carefully about travel, what their journeys are for and whether they are urgent and necessary.

”While Covid-19 regulations allow people to leave the house for various exemptions, the snow may lead to people becoming stuck and unable to return home.

”In extreme circumstances, if your house is uninhabitable and may cause a threat to the safety of persons inside then it ispermitted under Covid legislation to stay elsewhere.

“Thought should be given as to where this is, to best protect vulnerable members of your family.”