By Duncan Bick and Chris Story

Last updated at 17:08, Tuesday, 05 February 2013

About 40 vehicles got stuck in snowy conditions in Cumbria this morning.

Police were advising motorists not to leave the M6 motorway at junction 37 as it was closed because of the wintry weather.

The vehicles got stuck on the A684 near to the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal.

A police spokeswoman said: “We are asking motorists not to leave junction 37 of the M6 northbound or southbound as it is presently closed off due to the weather.”

Early this morning, a car and lorry collided on the M6 at Blackford between Carlisle and Gretna – closing two northbound lanes of the M6.

It happened shortly before 6.45am when a Vauxhall Insignia car and a lorry collided.

Two lanes were shut while police cleared the scene and ambulance crews treated the two male drivers.

A plough cleared some snow from the outside lane of the southbound M6 at Metal Bridge just after 8am.

Meanwhile, a man crashed his car into the central barrier of the M6.

The crash happened at about 9pm last night, when the man’s Mercedes skidded between Tebay and Kirkby Lonsdale.

He was uninjured. His vehicle was recovered and both car and driver were transported home to Worcestershire.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said that there had been several skids on the motorway overnight, especially on this stretch of it, but no further crashes.

Roads around the county were affected by snow, sleet and hail, which came down last night.

This bad weather was set to continue into this afternoon, when temperatures were predicted to rise and it would turn to rain.

Meanwhile, the M74 was closed between Eaglesfield and Kirkpatrick Fleming, northbound, early this morning because of a three-vehicle collision.

A spokeswoman for Dumfries and Galloway Police said there were no injuries.

In south Cumbria, the A592 Kirkstone Pass was closed between the Troutbeck junction and the Hartsop junction, because of snow. It was not set to reopen until some of this had melted.

The Struggle between the Kirkstone Pass Inn and Ambleside was also closed because of snow.

The A66 westbound was described as having a covering of snow but driveable. Police advised motorists to take care while travelling.

Up to four inches of snow was reported in higher, more remote areas, such as Penton, north of Longtown. Motorists said driving conditions were difficult on roads which are not heavily used.

Snowfall appeared heavier this morning in Dumfriesshire, with Gretna and Annan having heavier falls than those seen in Carlisle.

Traffic was slower on the A75 between Annan and Gretna as drivers took it easier in response to the road conditions.

Canonbie Primary School was among a number in Dumfries and Galloway forced to close because of the weather.

The Met Office forecast that snow showers today could see anywhere between 5cms to 20cms (two to eight inches) of snow fall around the county today. Higher ground was set to bear the brunt of this.

However, they also predicted that it would turn to rain by 3pm. Temperatures were set to hit a low of 0C and a high of 5C (32-41F).

People were warned to beware of ice on roads and pavements.

First published at 17:07, Tuesday, 05 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk