Snow causes Bristol Airport closure and M5 issues

Snow has caused widespread disruption across the west of England this weekend with flights suspended and a number of roads shut.

Some flights are still delayed at Bristol Airport, which has now reopened, and the M5 has been cleared after multiple accidents in Somerset.

In Wiltshire, heavy snowfall closed the A303 on Saturday and Gloucestershire Police reported cars getting stuck in the Forest of Dean.

The snow and ice has now washed away in most places, but a new weather alert has been issued by the Met Office – a 24-hour yellow warning for rain.

There is ongoing disruption at Bristol Airport, where a number of flights are delayed including to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Belfast.

The airport was briefly shut because of the poor weather conditions, which saw passengers delayed for hours.

Bob Howard, 67, from Redland was due to arrive into Bristol at 19:30 GMT on Saturday from Barcelona, but the snow meant his flight was diverted to Birmingham, where he was left waiting on the plane for over two hours after it landed.

Another passenger, Andrew Baxter, was hoping to fly to Edinburgh from Bristol on Saturday, but was told his flight was cancelled because of the snow.

The weather made for a “very busy” night for the emergency services.

Volunteers from Wiltshire Search and Rescue have helped nurses and midwives to get through the icy conditions to see patients.

Meanwhile 4×4 responders have been on call in Gloucestershire to help key workers get to care homes and doctors surgeries.

Avon and Somerset Police responded to a number of accidents on the M5 including an overturned vehicle between Taunton and Bridgwater, where no-one was seriously hurt.

They warned motorists only to travel in the county if absolutely necessary.

Snow fell particularly heavily on the Quantocks, Exmoor and in north Somerset.

It eventually turned into sleet and rain – but not in the Cotswolds – which woke up to a thick blanket of snow on Sunday.

The snow appears to have stopped but that does not mark the end of weather disruption, according to the Met Office.

A new weather warning for rain has been introduced covering a large part of southern England including the west.

The Met Office has warned bus and train journeys are likely to be affected with flooding on the roads likely.

Police have urged people to drive with caution due to standing water.