Schools closed and misery on road as snow could stay until Thursday

Nearly 300 schools were shut across the Black Country and Staffordshire and many main roads remained treacherous after a day of relentless snow showers yesterday.

The M54 between Wolverhampton and Telford was particularly icy today, and the Black Country Route from the city to the M6 was down to one lane because of snow.

Main roads in Cannock Chase, Rugeley, Lichfield and Shifnal were also affected, making it a difficult journey to work for thousands.

School closures for West Midlands and Staffordshire - Monday, January 21

Transport networks were operating limited services with many residential routes still no-go areas for buses.

At Birmingham Aiport, passengers were being advised of delays to flights and told to check the status of flights with airlines. All flights were temporarily suspended yesterday to allow the runways to be cleared of snow.

Heathrow Airport cancelled 300 flights today as the weather continues to disrupt.

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And there were delays on the trains today of 45 minutes between Wolverhampton and Birmingham because of signalling problems.

Meals-on-wheels drivers across Cannock, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Walsall and parts of Dudley succeeded in delivering hot dinners to isolated pensioners after appealing for 4x4 drivers.

Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital was "overwhelmed" by the response after making a similar plea for volunteers to ferry stranded patients. More than 80 people volunteered.

Motoring organisations have warned about "skating rink" road conditions with the fresh snow compacting down and turning icy, resulting in treacherous driving conditions.

The emergency services have also urged caution after a string of weather-related accidents. A sledger was taken to hospital after a fall at Barr Beacon reservoir in Aldridge while a man slipped on ice near Bilston, impaling his leg on metal railings.

Firefighters struggled to put out a car fire in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, when water from the hose turned to ice the instant it hit the ground.

The Met Office today issued a yellow "be aware" ice warning. Forecasters say snow flurries could still hit the region.

Highways teams in the region are working round-the-clock. In Staffordshire, 2,000 tons of grit was spread at the weekend, spread by hand in areas gritting lorries could not reach.

It's a winter wonderland - Read more in today's Express & Star