Heavy snow in Kent has caused accidents on roads and brought motorways to a standstill.
Traffic on the A249 Detling Hill is stationary, blocked in both directions due to a multi-vehicle accident and snow accumulation between M20 Junction 7 and M2 Junction 5.
The M20 is also at a standstill, with drivers reporting being stuck for more than 40 minutes.
Coastal lanes are closed after junction 8 to Leeds Castle and Maidstone Services due to snow.
There was also stationary traffic on the A229 Blue Bell Hill and the road was impassable.
South East 4×4 Response is helping people get home from Blue Bell Hill.
Two cars were involved in an accident on the A26 London Road near Yew Road, near Southborough.
Traffic was at a standstill and roads were impassable due to the incident.
The snow also blocked the A247 North Street around Sutton Valence High Street and the A267 at Tunbridge Wells between the town and Five Ashes.
The A229 between Hawkhurst and Cranbrook and the A251 between Sandyhurst Lane, Boughton Lees and White Hill, Boughton Aluph are also blocked.
The A229 Linton Hill is also closed to traffic in both directions due to snow on Heath Road.
South East 4×4 Response volunteers are out helping people stranded in the snow and they are currently at Maidstone Hospital in case their vehicles are needed.
The M2 between Sittingbourne and Gillingham is also very slow, with traffic coming to a stop near Gillingham, a lane heading towards London.
One woman wrote on the Isle of Sheppey gossip Facebook page: “My daughter is stuck there with her two small children and worried as one will soon need to be fed.”
A group calling themselves Trolls Island 4×4 offered to have the car towed.
Elsewhere on the M2 near Strood, the carriageway is just now clear, but there is regular traffic between junction 6 to Faversham.
The A2 is available in both directions around Cobham and Shorne, with traffic halted due to the snow and emergency services and motorways also advising people not to travel tonight unless absolutely necessary.
There were also delays on the A228 Four Elms Hill between the Chattenden and Wainscott bypasses, with the road impassable.
National Highways said the county’s strategic road network had been hit particularly hard, with snow heavily affecting the M20, A21 and A249 around junctions 8 and 9, making it difficult for drivers to navigate.
The resulting traffic hinders the passage of gritters, which also have snowplows, in some areas.
Gina Oxley, National Highways Duty Operations Manager for the region, said: “We have been working hard all afternoon as we continue to work on routes so we can reach the hardest hit areas and provide our customers with Journey support.
“For anyone thinking of traveling tonight, our advice is to not go unless absolutely necessary as heavy snow is expected to continue until 9am tomorrow.”
Earlier a car overturned near Faversham on the A251 Ashford Road off the A2 Canterbury Road.
The accident has now been resolved, but drivers have been warned to drive carefully as winter weather is set to continue into tomorrow.
People are experiencing problems on Tonbridge Road in Maidstone but police are on scene trying to help people.
As the snow fell, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning until 9am.
Tonight’s snow and ice warning was issued on Friday, with authorities saying it could cover the county from 6 p.m., but it was then brought forward.
The Met Office’s yellow weather warning was updated at around 9pm, saying snow and ice would disrupt road traffic in the county tonight and tomorrow morning.
The Met Office said the warning was brought forward to account for “some impacts in the late afternoon”.
“The likelihood of impact has also increased,” it added.
Impacts include potentially more travel delays for some stranded vehicles and passengers on the road, as well as delays or cancellations of rail and air travel.
It also warned that some rural communities could experience temporary power outages, “which are very unlikely and other services such as cell phone coverage may be affected.”
Meanwhile, KCC Highways will deploy gravel trucks to tackle major roads tonight and tomorrow morning to prevent dangerous driving conditions from icing and frost.
“Motorists are advised to be aware of icy road surfaces/sections overnight and tomorrow morning, especially on untreated roads, and should expect slippery road surfaces,” the authority said.
“They should drive cautiously, with caution, move slowly and not be surprised by ‘sudden’ traffic light changes or other vehicles braking.
“Hard braking, sharp steering or sharp acceleration are key precursors to a skid on snow and ice.”
Motorists have also been warned to avoid Grosvenor Road in Tunbridge Wells as several cars have been spotted stuck in the area.
Today’s weather has already wreaked havoc on train lines as ice blocks power supplies.
Many services between Ashford International, Dover Priory and Canterbury East are not operating.
Network Rail said the tracks were treated to stop this, but the rain washed away the antifreeze and left the tracks covered in ice.
There will be no service on the Southeastern between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings tonight due to signal problems.
Southeast Airlines expects the delay to continue into tomorrow.
In its latest statement, the rail operator said: “The first trains in each direction on many routes are likely to be canceled in order to allow Network Rail to check that the tracks are clear of snow and ice, which could prevent trains from drawing power from the tracks.”
Trip planners will be updated as soon as details of any cancellations are confirmed.
For the latest traffic and travel information tune in to kmfm as there will be coverage until 10pm tonight and again at 6am tomorrow.
