Hampshire travel delays continue amid snow and ice

Snow and ice continued to cause travel problems in Hampshire on Tuesday, although the weather improved.

Gritters were out in force overnight on Monday treating "priority one" routes - which carry 85% of county traffic.

Southampton Airport opened at 0630 GMT but passengers were told to expect delays. The airport took three flights diverted from Gatwick on Monday.

South Central Ambulance Service had 703 call-outs in Hampshire over the weekend - up 20% on the same weekend last year.

The service said it had been its busiest time of the year so far.

Revised timetable

It deployed its fleet of 4x4 vehicles and its vehicles were kitted out with special "snow shoes", which give better traction on snow and ice.

The county escaped further snow fall on Tuesday with temperatures a few degrees above freezing.

Southampton University Hospitals Trust said it was cancelling all non-emergency surgery after being inundated with patients who have fractures as a result of falling in the snow and ice.

Outpatients were also asked not to attend Southampton General Hospital unless their appointment was essential.

South West Trains has been running a revised timetable aimed at giving passengers "greater certainty" about journeys.

Passengers were advised to check the firm's website for the latest information.

It added it intended to return to a normal timetable from Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the council said more than 1,000 blue salt bins had been placed in villages, towns and cities around the county to enable residents to keep pavements and roads safe.