Motorists warned over heavy snow

Gerry Gallagher sent in this image of Divis Road, behind Black Mountain, near Belfast. The Roads Service has warned of treacherous conditions in NI

Motorists have been advised to drive with extra caution as heavy snow falls in Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has said a few centimetres of snow would settle on low lying areas as well as hills.

The Roads Service said 1-3 cms of snow was forecast at lower levels with up to 5cm on higher ground and the salting of main roads was under way.

The runway at City of Derry Airport re-opened at 1330 GMT after being closed for several hours.

BBC NI weather forecaster Angie Phillips said Sunday would be a "bitterly cold day".

Police have warned motorists in north Belfast to avoid the Ligoniel Road and Ballyhill Road due to treacherous conditions.

In Castlereagh, the Rocky Road has been closed at its junctions with Manse Road and Upper Knockbreda Road.

Frozen pitches saw several Irish League football matches called off on Saturday.

Snow on Thursday and Friday saw many schools close, mostly in the Greater Belfast area and counties Down and Armagh.

WINTRY WEATHER GALLERY In pictures: Snow Send your shots to [email protected] See www.bbc.co.uk/terms for conditions

While the snow was a break for some schoolchildren Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said too many people were using the weather as an excuse to take time off work.

He criticised "health and safety nuts" for mollycoddling people and also said parents should take more responsibility for getting their children to school.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said the minister was wrong to criticise the closures.

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