Snow and ice causing disruption

Residents in Shawford, Hampshire, woke up to a second day of snow Your pictures: Snowy south

Snow and icy conditions are continuing to cause disruption across Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset.

About 900 schools closed on Tuesday and public transport was disrupted as further snow hit southern England.

Police were called to assist the drivers and passengers of 14 vehicles stuck on an icy hill at Lyme Regis during the evening rush-hour.

Reading Buses cancelled most of its services from 1930 GMT with a decision on a resumption due on Wednesday.

Meanwhile flights resumed at both Southampton and Bournemouth Airports but people were warned of delays.

The runway at Southampton was closed at least twice on Tuesday while Bournemouth Airport reopened just before 1500 GMT.

A Southampton Airport spokeswoman said: "Some evening flights are still affected by delays so passengers are advised to check with their airlines for further information."

A total of 33 flights had been cancelled by 1800 GMT with a further three diverted while the runway was closed.

A gritter was sent to the stranded vehicles in west Dorset to help get them moving again.

The road had been blocked in both directions.

Zoo closed

The Highways Agency warned of more snow and ice on Dorset roads on Wednesday morning.

Up to 12 inches (30cm) of snow fell on Monday and overnight into Tuesday in southern England.

Forecasters said Monday's snow was the heaviest in the UK for nearly 20 years.

Two people were treated for minor injuries after nine cars were involved in a pile-up in snowy weather on the M27 motorway near Southampton.

A coach also hit the central reservation on the M3 southbound at Hook and two cars were involved in a shunt blocking one lane.

Plans were in place to send out gritters on Hampshire's roads on Tuesday evening, the county council said.

"Hopefully the slightly higher forecast temperatures will make the treatment more effective," a spokesperson said.

The penguins were the only animals out in the snow at Marwell Zoo

The South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said the past 24 hours had been a "challenging time" with a 34% increase in people injured in falls.

Marwell Zoo, near Winchester, which normally opens every day of the year except Christmas and Boxing Day, was shut for a second day on Tuesday due to the weather.

The only animals making an appearance were the penguins.

About 550 schools closed across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, while 250 closed in Berkshire and nearly 100 closed in Dorset. Most were shut for a second day.

Many were set to reopen on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, many roads in Dorset were closed on Tuesday morning because of ice, and motorists in Berkshire were warned about hazardous driving conditions around Windsor, Maidenhead and Slough.

Stagecoach said some of its rural road services in Hampshire were not running because of icy roads. Wilts and Dorset Buses was running a reduced service.

First Great Western (FGW) was running a revised service between London Paddington and Reading, Oxford and Bedwyn, and between Maidenhead, Marlow, Bourne End, Twyford and Henley-on Thames.

South West Trains services from London Waterloo to Hampshire and Dorset continued to be disrupted for a second day.

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