Drivers were caught in traffic jams as they headed home

Drivers in Birmingham reported journeys of just a few miles taking several hours, as the main roads out of the city ground to a halt.

Cars were abandoned on all the major routes as frustrated motorists found other ways home or back to work.

The travel problems led to the closure of all Birmingham city council schools on Thursday, with 60 schools closed in Hereford and Worcester, 16 in Shropshire and nearly 200 in Staffordshire.

Motorists are being warned to drive carefully again on Thursday as temperatures are due to drop quickly in the evening causing more black ice on the roads across the region.

Have Your Say

"Most people seem to have heeded our advice in staying off the roads today," said a spokesman for AA Roadwatch.

"North Staffordshire is the worst affected with treacherous conditions in Burton, Tamworth, Lichfield and Stoke-on Trent."

A spokesman for Stoke City Council said their gritting lorries had been out since 0600 GMT on Monday night, but their drivers had had bricks thrown at them as they tried to clear roads on Wednesday.

Staffordshire Ambulance Service said they would be responding to life-saving calls only following Wednesday's congestion.

Gritters out

Spokesman Bob Lee said: "Staff worked far, far in excess and some ambulances were stuck in jams for five and a half hours."

The Queensway tunnel in Birmingham was closed for several hours on Wednesday following a number of collisions and the A441 was closed at about 1900 GMT after a crash involving a coach and four cars.

A spokesman from Travel Link West Midlands said a lot of the salt on the roads had been washed away.

"The frozen slush has rendered some of the salt less active, but the gritters are still out and the city council is doing all it can to keep the roads open," he said.

Birmingham Airport was also badly affected and all passengers are being advised to check with their airlines before travelling.

The Met Office in Birmingham says no more snow is predicted and conditions will turn wet, windy and mild over the next few days.