No snow repeat means relief for motorists

DRIVERS gritted their teeth for more road chaos this morning — but heavy snow predicted overnight failed to materialise.

There was no repeat of Tuesday’s white-out conditions which caused traffic mayhem.

But at least 13 schools were closed with more expected to follow. Updates are available at www.oldham.gov.uk, schools’ websites and on local radio.

Around 4in (10cm) of snow had been predicted and temperatures fell to -3.3°C at 2.22am before rising to 3°C by 7.30am.

Gritters worked through the night to keep the borough’s 500-plus miles roads open.

It was a mixed weather bag for the borough with light snow in Shaw, but overnight gale force winds and driving rain kept the moorland roads clear.

The Saddleworth villages — some more than 1,000ft high — had braced themselves for a further deluge of snow. A gritter based on the moors kept sleet off the A62 Oldham to Huddersfield road and traffic flowed freely.

Oldham mountain rescue team, which attended six incidents on Tuesday, remained on standby and police warned drivers to take care in high winds.

One driver, who commutes from Mossley to Oldham, had been forced to abandon his car on Tuesday.

He said: “I was expecting a deluge of snow this morning but there was only rain and the roads were clear. I left early for work at 6.40am to compensate for any bad driving conditions but the roads were fine.”

Extra gritting salt has been brought in by the council to maintain a 24-hour operation while the weather is at its worst.

Weather forecasts are being monitored and people can call the council’s helpline on 0161 770 4421.

l The schools confirmed as closed are Breeze Hill, Chadderton (upper and lower), Chadderton Hall Junior, Clarksfield Primary, Counthill, Crompton House, East Crompton St George’s Primary, Grange, Greenfield Primary, Hathershaw, Holy Trinity, Kingfisher, Our Lady’s High School and St Thomas’s, Werneth.