East of England snow disruption latest
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- More snow predicted as weather continues to cause disruption
- Some schools close for the third day in a row
- Rescue vehicles stuck in snow while helping others
- Drifting snow continues to make some rural areas impassable
- Ipswich Town, Norwich City, Northampton Town, Colchester United and Peterborough United matches postponed
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Police issue warning over fake driveway clearers
The snow has brought out some of the best in people over the past few days, but Bedfordshire Police has issued a warning for residents over fake driveway clearers.
How to help rough sleepers in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Council has the following advice:
Carousel stops buses
Some travel news from Buckinghamshire:
More help offered to homeless people in Essex
I climbed a snowy mountain...
...or perhaps a snowdrift hill at the side of the road?
Intrepid Megan Long making the best of the weather at Runhall, near Dereham.
Dedicated Ipswich radiographer walks home in heavy snow
A hospital radiographer who had stayed beyond her 12-hour night shift to ensure there were enough beds for patients walked home in heavy snow.
Laura Witham, 25, who works at Ipswich Hospital, took the three-and-a-half-mile (5.6km) journey home to Ranelagh Road by foot after public transport came to a halt, there were no taxi services and the hospital community 4x4 service was already out.
She said she "never expected the weather to come to that" when she went to work on Tuesday and had no gloves and no hat for her two-and-a-half hour walk in "challenging conditions" on Wednesday morning.
"It wasn't the best walk of my life but I was looking at sorting reserve beds for patients and I didn't want to make any compromises," she said.
Get a sledge, get ahead
It's snowing.
There is no school.
There really is only one option...
Go out and get sledging, like these youngsters in Bedford.
The cold arm of the law
True Grit
Over the past 24 hours, gritters runs in the Bedford area have covered 480km (298 miles).
They have been out on runs at 15:00, 20:00, 04:30 and a few more in between, says Bedford Borough Council.
Complete Thameslink journeys by 15:00
Thameslink is advising anyone using its train service today to do so by 15:00.
It says it is currently running a "good service" but adds the "weather is expected to deteriorate this afternoon and we may be prevented from running services on some routes".
Northampton Saints doing their best to beat the snow
The snow has already claimed a number of scheduled sporting events, but there's still hope of a game for Northampton Saints.
Staff have being working to remove the white stuff from covers at Franklin's Gardens ahead of tomorrow's planned Aviva Premiership match with Sale Sharks (15:00).
Meanwhile, Northampton Town's League One trip to Blackpool is already off, with non-league football badly affected too.
Abbey Stadium passes first pitch inspection
Cambridge United's pitch at the Abbey Stadium has passed an initial inspection, ahead of the game against Luton Town tomorrow.
A further inspection will now take place at 09:30 tomorrow, to see if the game can go ahead.
Chocolate snow?
An unusual sight in Honing, Norfolk, today, where soil has mixed with the snow to turn it brown.
Caroline Willington, who sent the photos, said: "The strong winds have blown the soil off fields to colour the snow - drifts of up to 5ft in place of the roadside.
"Although the road looks muddy, it is snow, and very slippery!"
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Essex Police bringing the LOLs
Help for rough sleepers in Bedfordshire
Overnight shelter is being provided in Luton to help rough sleepers.
Central Bedfordshire Council is working with the charity, Noah Enterprise, and will be at the Welfare Centre in Luton from 20:00 until 22:00.
They will then move to the Luton Baptist Church until 07:00 tomorrow.
The Night Owl Bus is also running from 21:00 and will pick up in Biggleswade, Sandy, Arlesey, Shefford, Ampthill and Flitwick.
If you are aware of any rough sleepers, you are asked to get in touch with the council.
Isn't it meant to be spring?
Yesterday was the meteorological first day of spring, but someone seems to have forgotten to tell the weather.
These crocuses photographed by BBC Weather Watcher Poppy in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, are struggling to bloom through the snow.
And the same is happening in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
Ipswich Town match postponed: View from the ground
BBC Radio Suffolk commentator Brenner Woolley will have the afternoon off work tomorrow, after Ipswich Town postponed their match with Hull.
He's been to Portman Road this morning to see the state of the pitch, which has been protected, and the surrounding area.
Police plea for sensible 999 use
Dino-snow rises up from the cold
Finally... a real beast from the east?!
Hats off to the Tink family, from Tuckswood in Norwich.
The masterpiece took them just three hours to make!
Pitch inspection ahead of Barnsley v Norwich match
Nic Rigby
BBC News
Barnsley Football Club are to check on the condition of their pitch ahead of tomorrow's match with Norwich City.
The club said the inspection would look to "see if the grass is in playable condition".
"The pitch is one of the factors that will determine whether the game can go ahead or not," a spokesman said.
"Barnsley Football Club will keep fans updated with all information as soon as it becomes available to ensure everyone can plan their weekend travel at the earliest opportunity."
Demand high for Bedfordshire food bank
A food bank in Biggleswade says demand for its help is higher than ever during the cold weather.
Community group Preen says demand usually drops off after Christmas, but many people are still struggling to cope.
Cathy Lewis, who runs the food bank, said: "We've had people coming in on behalf of elderly people and a few disabled people, who are just too frightened or too vulnerable to leave the house.
"It is important to look after the people in your street, and it's not always the usual suspects, it's normal working families who are just finding it a bit tough at the moment."
RSPCA receives thousands of calls during cold spell
The cold weather and icy conditions are stretching rescuers from the RSPCA.
The charity says since Sunday evening they have received three times the amount of calls as normal, about 8,000 nationally.
Simon Osborne, from the charity, said: "We are very busy with animal rescues up and down the country and will get to as many of the incidents as we can - but we are only able to respond to emergencies at the moment."
Yesterday, the RSPCA helped a kitten that was found in Luton and named him Jon Snow, after the Game of Thrones character.
Railway lines blocked between Ely and Downham Market
There are more problems on the trains.
Great Northern says the line between Ely and Downham Market is blocked because of damage to overhead electric wires.
Cambridge Half Marathon 'still going ahead as planned'
The organiser of the Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon says the event it is still going ahead as planned on Sunday.
The race should see 9,000 runners take to the streets of Cambridge to tackle the 13.1-mile (21km) course.
OSB Events says anyone who is unable to make the event due to weather conditions will be offered a guaranteed place at an early bird price for next year's half marathon.
Bins still being emptied in Luton
Is this the coolest house in Norfolk?
Broadland Half Marathon cancelled due to weather
Sunday’s Broadland Half Marathon has been cancelled due to the cold weather conditions.
In a statement, the organisers of the event, which was due to start at South Walsham, near Norwich, said: "The safety of the runners, marshals and spectators is paramount and we feel this would be compromised if we went ahead with the race."
Ipswich Town v Hull postponed
Ipswich Town have announced that tomorrow's game with Hull has been postponed due to the weather.
In a statement, the club said: "The pitch is protected and likely to be playable but the areas inside and outside the stadium are hazardous and more bad weather is forecast later today, with freezing temperatures to continue into the weekend."
Peterborough match called off because of Shrewsbury snow
Peterborough United’s Sky Bet League One fixture at Shrewsbury Town tomorrow has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
No new date has been arranged as yet, but the club says anyone who has already purchased a ticket will be able to use that ticket for the new date.
Extreme ploughing
Now this is deep snow...
And this is how Banham Hill, in Norfolk, looks without the snow:
Police urge drivers not to abandon cars
A snapshot of snow in rural Suffolk
As many of the main roads around the county are being used by people travelling to and from work, it can be hard to fully appreciate reports from more rural areas that driving conditions are less favourable.
Here's a snapshot of what it's currently like in Gedding, which is between Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.
Although the piles of snow on the sides of the road aren't as deep as elsewhere, it's clear to see that driving conditions are not ideal.
Flights cancelled at Norwich Airport
A number of flights have been cancelled at Norwich Airport, but it is still open.
Its website is experiencing "technical difficulties" so the airport is advising customers to call 01603 411923 if they have any queries.
Working in all conditions
Many people across the region are struggling to get out and about, as police forces are warning people to only travel if they have to.
For some, they have to drive in difficult conditions, as this picture shows:
The East of England Ambulance Service shared the picture on Twitter.
The service says it was taken by Matt, one of their staff based in West Norfolk in the early hours of this morning.
Road closure in Aylesbury
Did someone say there was snow?
Although it is closed, work continues for the staff at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire.
They are "ensuring the animals stay nice and warm" and some of the species have been given hot water with lemon and honey.
The park says most animals are choosing to stay warm and tucked up.
But there's always a exception to the rule!
Plea to help homeless people in Milton Keynes
Snow closes National Trust properties
A number of National Trust properties in the region have closed today while the Beast from the East hits.
A round of applause for the 4x4s
A plea went out earlier by the South Central Ambulance Service for anyone with a 4x4 to help get staff to and from work.
Well the appeal worked and several have rolled up for duty.
More people are still needed to help, and they are asked to email if they are available later.
A big "thank you" has gone out to those who've already done their bit.
Where are we? The Alps?
Mariam Issimdar
BBC News
My journey into the office meant getting past these beasts in South Norfolk!