Ice falls close Severn Crossings

One of the two Severn Crossing bridges closed by dangerous snow and icy conditions has reopened.

The Severn Bridge on the M48 had reopened to traffic by 1530 GMT on Friday. The M4 bridge remained closed.

The Highways Agency made the decision to close both M48 and M4 Severn Crossings after lumps of ice fell on to traffic from overhead gantries.

Police said five car windscreens had been smashed by falling ice from the cables on the Second Severn Crossing.

A spokesman said it was "unprecedented" that weather conditions had led to both the M48 and M4 bridges being closed.

"It's very much a safety hazard and of course these gantries span all carriageways on the motorways," said Jim Clune, general manager of Severn River Crossing.

"We have had reports of sheets of ice up to one metre square.

"The last time both bridges were closed was 10 years ago when there was a release of a noxious chemical at Avonmouth."

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