Drivers stranded on A3 in Hampshire after heavy snow

Gritters and snow ploughs brought in to service main routes were stranded BBC Hampshire - snow information

Up to 1,000 drivers were stranded overnight on the A3 in Hampshire as heavy snow fell across the county.

An elderly man also died when he lost control of his car in atrocious weather conditions in Titchfield near Fareham.

More than 550 schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been closed. Southampton Airport has now reopened.

The emergency services said they were operating "critical cover" as snow continued to fall across the county making driving conditions "difficult".

BBC news reporter Jo Palmer, who is at Hampshire Constabulary's adverse weather centre in Netley, near Southampton, said there had been reports of 50 trees falling down due to the weight of snow which were blocking roads in the Petersfield area.

'Very frightening'

Police said conditions on the A27 and many local roads were still "difficult".

Carla Holt, who is eight-months pregnant, was stranded in her car for 12 hours when her car became stuck in the snow on the A3(M) at Petersfield, Hampshire.

Ms Holt, who was travelling with her 13-month-old daughter and friend, claimed she received no support from the police until the road was cleared enough for vehicles to move again at about 0630 GMT.

She started her journey at 1730 GMT on Tuesday, from near Heathrow Airport to Selsey, West Sussex, but did not arrive until 0800 GMT.

Ms Holt said that the experience was "very frightening".

"We went through hell. It wasn't very nice, I didn't think we would get here," she added.

"There were loads of cars parked up, just on the motorway."

Up to 12in (30cm) of snow fell throughout the county on Tuesday evening.

Hampshire County Council said that 45 salting lorries were on the road

Police said that between 600 and 1,000 vehicles were caught up in an eight to nine-mile tailback on the A3(M) on Tuesday evening.

Gritters and snow ploughs which should have been servicing other main routes were also stranded.

On the Isle of Wight 40 stranded motorists were taken to an emergency rest centre after they had taken shelter inside a bus station in Newport.

Hampshire County Council said it had 45 salting lorries on the road from lunchtime on Tuesday and overnight.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust said members of the public had helped its crews travel to patients stuck in the snow.

It said that one man turned up to an ambulance station with his 4x4 and travelled with a paramedic attending emergencies overnight.

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