Snow closes more schools

Parts of Wales were covered in snow overnight

Schools across Wales were forced to close for a second day on Friday as snow and ice brought more disruption overnight.

Police were again warning motorists to stay home unless their journeys were absolutely necessary.

The coldest place in Wales was Sennybridge, near Brecon, where temperatures fell to -11 celsius.

This is the second day of disruption across the country - on Thursday more than 350 Welsh schools were closed by mid afternoon, while homes and businesses lost power and telephone connections.

There were more heavy snowfalls on Friday - particularly in parts of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys.

Snow ploughs and gritters worked throughout the night in order to try and keep the roads clear.

Motorists are advised to avoid driving in upland areas if possible Met Office spokesman

Many parts of north Wales were also under a blanket of snow.

Police in Wrexham were snowed in for around two hours and told to deal with emergencies only.

In south Wales, a RAF helicopter was scrambled from RAF Valley to fly a seriously ill woman from Aberystwyth to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

The woman was due to be transported by ambulance, but the RAF was called to assist due to treacherous road conditions.

She was taken to hospital safely, but on the helicopter's return to Aberystwyth it ran into difficulties.

Squadron leader Rick Phillips from RAF Kinloss said: "They (the crew) were able to get to Cardiff," he said, "but when they got half way back to Aberystwyth they just ran into snow where it was unsafe to continue.

"They turned round and the crew are now resting in a Cardiff hotel."

Early morning traffic was gridlocked in Aberystwyth on Thursday

The weather has also caused problems for farmers at the beginning of the lambing season.

Daphne Tilley, a shepherd from Llansannan on the Denbigh Moors, said the snow had speeded up deliveries in some ewes.

"Sheep can get stressed and that can bring on labour," she said.

"We've had 14 sets of twins and two sets of triplets born this morning plus a couple of singles in an hour and 10 minutes.

"The snow is quite deep and people are having real trouble. It's twice as much work.

The Met Office has warned that icy conditions are likely to continue until the weekend.

"There will be localised drifting and blizzard conditions in upland areas," said a spokesman.

"Roads are likely to become icy in areas affected by the snow, giving some dangerous driving conditions, and motorists are advised to avoid driving in upland areas if possible."

Claire Price from the AA told BBC Wales that if people did decide to drive they needed to take things slowly.

"Obviously you need to keep your speeds down and drive to the weather conditions as you see them in front of you," she said.

"If there is embedded ice on the road you will have some road spin. If it's really bad and you can't move it's always good to have an old sack or something underneath just to get some traction going on the wheels.

"But when you're on your own it's not easy if you're skidding about," she added.

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