Sidmouth severe weather warning issued

The MET Office has issued a severe weather warning for Devon today (Tuesday). After temperatures dropped to sub zero temperatures yesterday and overnight, the cold snap will continue to cause hazardous road conditions in Sidmouth and the surrounding areas

The MET Office has issued a severe weather warning for Devon today (Tuesday).

After temperatures dropped to sub zero temperatures yesterday and overnight, the cold snap will continue to cause hazardous road conditions in Sidmouth and the surrounding areas today.

Further bands of sleet and snow showers will continue through the morning with accumulations of 5 to 10 centimetres expected in some places.

There is also a risk of widespread icy stretches on untreated surfaces too.

A MET spokesman said: "The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the relevant transport authority for further information on any travel disruption."

The A3052 road, between the B3176 and Woolbrook Road, was closed from 10.30pm on Sunday until yesterday afternoon (Monday) due to a build up of ice on the road.

A man was injured when his car veered off the road on Sunday evening on the A3052 and a woman in her 20s was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday morning after her moped slipped on black ice near Woods Farm on the Ottery to Bowd road.

Devon County Highways have been working around the clock to grit the main roads in a bid to prevent any further accidents.

Gritters headed out at 2:45pm yesterday afternoon with 360 tonnes of salt for the salting network. They also treated secondary routes to try and salt roads into major hamlets.

A repeat coverage of the main network was carried out at midnight across the county.

A further inspection was also carried out at 4am this morning and through to the rush hour to see if further action is needed.

Around 11,000 tonnes of salt has been used on the County's salting network from the first treatment on 27 October to the end of January. That already exceeds more than the whole of last winter.

Motorists are being reminded of the following advice:

� Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;

� Never assume a road has been salted - remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice. In very cold weather even salting will not stop ice from forming;

� Allow extra time for your journey and reduce your speed;

� Drive with care and according to the conditions.

For information on winter driving conditions see:

http://www.devon.gov.uk/travelling_on_devons_roads.pdf

Do you have any snowy pictures? If so please email them to emma.silverthorne@archant.co.uk.