Overnight snow causes disruption

Roads are slow-moving with Pennine routes particularly affected

Snow has caused traffic delays, closed schools and left people stranded across north-west England.

Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester have all been affected by overnight falls, leaving some schools shut for a third day.

Rochdale Council has recommended all 92 of its schools shut and more than 100 are closed in Lancashire.

Police are warning drivers to only make necessary journeys. Trans-Pennine roads, including the M62, are affected.

The road between Greenfield in Oldham and Holmfirth has been shut after gritters failed to keep it clear.

The Grane Road between Blackburn and Haslingden was closed for three hours when about 50 vehicles became stuck in the snow.

Soldiers in the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, based in Moss Street, Blackburn, helped free about 70 people stranded in their cars in freezing conditions on Grane Road.

The snow ploughs have now been able to get through and the road has re-opened.

Lancashire police have urged drivers to travel prepared with enough fuel for their journeys, de-icer and warm clothing.

Motorists abandoned cars in parts of east Lancashire and Bury

Insp Phil Cottam, of the Lancashire police motorway unit, said: "Even routine journeys can spell disaster if you are caught out by bad weather."

On Tuesday, after heavy snow, cars were abandoned in parts of east Lancashire and north Bury as motorists continued their journeys on foot.

Cumbria County Council has announced that 16 of its schools will not be open.

In Bolton, eight schools are shut, 10 closures have been announced in Bury, 10 in Oldham and one in Wigan.

Despite closure advice in Rochdale, three schools are open.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning as further wintry showers were forecast in the region until lunchtime.

Officers in Greater Manchester and Merseyside are warning drivers not to leave their cars running while they defrost them.

In Greater Manchester 20 thefts have been reported since Monday.

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