Drivers urged to stay at home as cars crash in snow across West Midlands
Several major roads have been blocked across the West Midlands as a result of heavy snowfall this morning.
Crashes have caused delays on the M6, M5 and M54 while cars have been left stranded on local roads across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
Police have urged people to avoid driving where possible as a result of the weather which has seen up to two inches of snow (5cm) in some parts of the region.
A crash led to long delays on the M5 this morning, with northbound traffic backed up for several miles after the incident happened at around 6.30am between junctions 4 and 5, while a stranded lorry also blocked the link road between the M42 and the M5.
Crashes were also reported on the M6 southbound in north Staffordshire and on the M54 near Wolverhampton.
"If you do have to drive this morning then please drive slowly and leave extra distance from the vehicle ahead," the Staffordshire and West Midlands Police collision unit said, adding that several incidents had already been reported before 7am.
Traffic has been moving far slower than normal on all roads as a result of snow on the carriageway, with many routes completely covered by the early-morning deluge.
he A442 was one of the roads worst affected, with the road blocked between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth as a result of stranded cars in Shatterford, while the Burntwood Bypass was closed due to a crash at around 8am.
"Police across the area are dealing with numerous snow related incidents," Lichfield Police said.
"Burntwood is particularly bad so if you must go out, drive carefully and leave plenty of distance from the vehicles in front. Our advice - stay home, have a hot chocolate and build a snow person."
Similar problems have been reported across all of the Black Country and Staffordshire.
South Staffordshire Police urged drivers against attempting to travel on the A458 between the Cat in Enville and Six Ashes, saying that the road was "impassable" and that a large number of vehicles had been left stranded.
Other examples include New Road in Featherstone, where cars have been unable to get up hill, and Coppice Lane in Brierley Hill and Drews Holloway in Halesowen which were both blocked by lorries.
Gritters have been out but conditions were expected to stay difficult throughout the bank holiday Monday, with temperatures forecast to stay just above freezing.
