Big freeze in West Midlands - live blog 3

More up-to-the-minute coverage of the Arctic conditions which continue to affect the West Midlands.

16.00: That is it for today. Send us your photos here:

A reminder of the useful pages:

15.40: If you've not read it already, our Wolves blogger John Lalley gives his as always incisive view on the idea of a football winter break: A winter break might not work Well worth a read.

15.18: Via Twitter: Bham_Childrens Fresh snow at Birmingham Children's Hospital http://yfrog.com/gyh2plj

15.15: It is not snow related weather strictly speaking but Joan Collins has pulled out of tonight's panto performance of Dick Whittington in Birmingham: Cold forces Joan Collins out of Birmingham panto

14.55: After the chaos of this morning, things seem to have settled down. The sun is out but the snow is not melting particularly quickly. It is going to be very cold tonight - workers will not be looking forward to the commute home.

14.40: Shop owners are preparing for a last minute rush from customers: Stores poised for last-minute rush

14.20: The latest word from Birmingham Airport: "Birmingham Airport is open and the vast majority of flights are operating to schedule. Passengers and those meeting people at the airport should check the arrivals and departures pages of this website for the latest information."

14.05: Couple of bin collection updates from Walsall Council via Twitter: WalsallCouncil Missed recycling collection today? You can leave it out on your next scheduled collection date in carrier bags or a cardboard box Thanks!

13.45: New pictures added to our latest gallery of photographs sent in by readers.

13.30: The sun is out but according to our latest forecast the temperature won't get above freezing until December 27 - and even then not by much.

13.15: Those of you who know people who've been stranded in or know people who have been stranded in the chaos at Heathrow Airport will be pleased to know that airport boss Colin Matthews has decided to forgo his 2010 bonus.

12.57: Plenty of anger being vented in the comments on our story on the halt on postal deliveries in the snow: Paths are too icy for postmen An interesting comment has been posted by someone on the employees' side: linda "Spare a thought for these postmen,my son is a postman and is really frustrated that he can,t deliver the mail to customers. In fact, the longer the delay for him and other postmen, the harder his job will be, because he will have so much mail it will make his job harder."

12.53: In iPhone weather update time, Wolverhampton is -1C. But the sun is now out here.

12.51: The following message has just gone out on Twitter: URGENT - West Mids Ambulance Service need 4x4 drivers to get nurses & drugs to patients. Call 01926 310 310 if you can help.

12.50: From our sister site, Shropshirestar.com: ShropStar Blog: Unlike Brits, Canadians are used to the snow shropshirestar.com/blogs/2010/12/…

12.38: The bravehearted will know what to do when it snows - go karting! Rest assured a centre near Lichfield is open: midlandkarting Arrive and drive this week running as normal, we are open Christmas eve 10am till 2pm as well. Contact us on 01543 418419 for full details.

12.35: A reminder of our info pages:

12.20: Travel report on Twitter for Lichfield region. philcritchley: A38 Closed, A5 Closed, A51 Closed. Lichfield to Tamworth was a no-go area this morning. So glad I didn't bother.

12.05: Black Country Living Museum is not letting the snow stop their fun. From Twitter: BCLivingMuseum WEATHER UPDATE for Wednesday 22nd December 2010, 12.00pm SANTA HUNTS: The Museum is open for the Santa Hunts... http://fb.me/R1rRMAxL

11.47: Sandwell Council says bin collections have continued today despite the snow on "main treated roads". They have full advice for anyone whose bin was not collected here: sandwellcouncil Bin collections update - Sandwell Council sandwell.gov.uk/news/article/5…

11.42: Anyone trying to do last minute Christmas shopping in Wolverhampton this morning was presented with this scene:

11.40: Latest news stories: Paths are too icy for postmen

Grit running out as councils fight freeze

Fish at risk as cold snap ends rescue bid

11.37: Wolverhampton Airport update: WHGA The airfield will again close today at 15.00 due to the ongoing weather conditions

11.30: Staff at the Moathouse hotel in Acton Trussell have been having fun in the snow: themoathouse @themoathouse tries to build the worlds biggest snowman.... http://plixi.com/p/64585837

11.25: Over in Burntwood and Lichfield, there will be no post according to this local site: http://bit.ly/glI633 "All postal deliveries for the Burntwood area have been cancelled today (Wednesday 22nd December) due to the snow. The move affects all customers served by the Lichfield sorting office which covers the WS7, WS13 & WS14 postcode areas."

11.11: More bin news, this time from South Staffordshire Council. On Twitter south_staffs: The bin crews are out but things are going slowly - get all the latest updates throughout the day bit.ly/h0cmBM

11.02: All fans of rival clubs - a comedy night is off at Birmingham City tonight. Send us your punchlines. BcfcDotCom Tonight's Comedy Night Christmas Special at St Andrew's has been cancelled due to the weather. It has been rescheduled for January 21st.

10.50: ChrisDavies1: Lichfield rd Walsall Wood toward Shire Oak http://yfrog.com/h2akfqvj

10.43: We now have video. See above.

10.41: Latest news story on the snow chaos: Travel chaos as snow returns to the West Midlands

10.35: Latest update from Birmingham Airport website: "Birmingham Airport is open and the vast majority of flights are operating to schedule; passengers and those meeting people at the airport should check the arrivals and departures pages of this website for the latest information."

10.27: More weather chaos news, this time from Walsall area: ChrisDavies1: @WalsallCouncil - counted 4 wagons stuck on hills thru Walsall Wood to Shire Oak. Traffic back beyond Rushall.

10.26:wolvesparkies: North Street/Paternoster Row, Wolverhampton @ExpressandStar http://ow.ly/i/6B1l http://ow.ly/i/6B1m http://ow.ly/i/6B1o

10.25: A recommendation for Wolverhampton weather news on Twitter from JamesRidgway. He says: "keep an eye on Simon Keeling's twitter feed @weatherschool. He's based in Wombourne and is the BEST forecaster out there!"

10.20: WalsallCouncil: All activities at Forest Arts Centre have been cancelled today. The Forest Arts Dance, taking place this evening, is still on.

10.01: For those in the East Staffordshire area, local weather blogger Hammerwich Weather and News says: Currently we are sitting in the centre of a horseshoe shaped cloud formation. The outer edges of the horseshoe all containing snow.

10.00: No bin collections in Lichfield today. Lichfield_DC Bin collections are definitely canceled today. We will recollect (along with side waste) on the 5th January http://bit.ly/fiuEvY #fb

9.51: The binmen are going back to base in Walsall but in Wolverhampton they are still on their rounds. Via Twitter: WolvesCouncil Bin crews are still out collecting in Wolverhampton in the snow - but will take a decision street-by-street whether safe for lorry to enter

9.50: Not everyone has been affected by the snow it seems. How has Halesowen escaped the heavy downfall? leewickstead: The anticipate snow hitting West Midlands has not visted Halesowen. Fantastic! had enough of it now.

9.49:WalsallCouncil have more updates on the bins situation: 4 inches of snow promised today apparently. Waste crews are reassuring residents they'll be working all of next week to clear the backlog.

9.46: Some more great photos from an Expressandstar.com Twitter follower.rowl Bilston Road at 09.42 @ExpressandStar @WV11 http://twitpic.com/3ibzvw http://twitpic.com/3ibzye

9.44: Check out this photo of Stafford station: VTStaffordstn I posted a new photo to Facebook http://fb.me/IVHV93Nd

9.42: This was the view in Wolverhampton last night, taken by our photographer Tim Thursfield. It looks a lot whiter this morning, with more snow to come:

9.40: Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor has posted this pic on Twitter: IanTaylor7 Freezing hell!! http://twitpic.com/3ibym3

9.36: You know it is cold when one of the pluckiest British characters, the market trader, is not able to go about their business. Via Twitter:WolvesCouncil Market in Dudley Street cancelled today due to snow, but Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesfield markets still open for business.

9.34: More local weather reports via Twitter.Space_Cowbylots of snow falling in #WV3, roads very slippery as no traffic to break up snow. Thanks to @WolvesCouncil for binmen :)

9.32: More on the Walsall Council bins situation via Twitter: WalsallCouncil So if your bin hasn't been collected today, you can put it out next Wednesday, 29 Dec.

9.29: Official police advice for anyone thinking of motoring in Wolverhampton today on Twitter: wolvespolice Snow is falling heavily in Wolverhampton this Wednesday morning, please take extra care if you are driving.

9.28: And now it's too cold for the bin men to do their rounds in Walsall. Via Twitter: WalsallCouncil Bit of an update on bins...Heavy snow is hampering our waste collection service so we're recalling our crews.

9.25: It's too cold for the Fat Controller! Thomasland has shut at Drayton Manor. Via Twitter: ThomasLandUK Morning all, we're having to close the park today because of severe weather conditions.

9.23: Wolverhampton is turning white - it's official. Via Twitter: wolvesparkies Thick snow, sticking now in Wolverhampton Town Centre but the parks look beautiful :O)

9.15: More stories from the snow coming in via Twitter: leecad82 Walsall awful ... On way home but having doubts about bus running now:( 8 mile walk home maybe? #uksnow #fb

9.05: Keep those snow updates coming. It is coming down heavily outside the E&S building in Queen Street, Wolverhampton. Meanwhile, in Stafford: mark13 snowing heavy in Stafford and settling

8.59: If you were thinking of driving down the M5 today, you may want to read this local BBC Tweet:BBCHandW Delays on M5 after overnight snow: Heavy snow falls overnight in Worcestershire and Herefordshire with early-mor... http://bbc.in/hPJ2rv

8.58: Check out this snow photo from Walsall Council, via Twitter. It looks pretty - if you don't have to travel through it:

8.55: Anyone travelling on the M54 into Shropshire today, our sister radio station tweets: TheSevern

8.50: For all the latest arrivals and departures at Birmingham Airport today, check these links:

8.45: Another selection of reader snow photos - keep them coming please folks: Snow-hit Midlands – your pictures

8.40: Latest travel news: Freeze keeps pressure on transport

8.35: Grit claims: Councils 'ordered less road salt'

8.30: Morning everyone. We have had a fresh downfall of snow over the region in the last 12 hours. Quick reminder of our information services: