Snow going

Photo: Darren Robinson

GOING nowhere . . . drivers on Huddersfield Road

GRIDLOCKED traffic brought more than three hours of chaos to roads across Oldham yesterday as rush hour drivers tried to get home.

The first of what would become 10cm of snow started to stick around mid-morning as temperatures fell.

And as motorists tried to leave work early, traffic ground to a halt along Yorkshire Street, St Mary’s Way, Huddersfield Road, Lees Road and Oldham Way. Side roads became compacted with icy slush.

The A640 road from Denshaw to Huddersfield was closed, as well as the A635 Holmfirth Road.

Cars were seen sliding down Chadderton Way and Queen Street in the town centre.

Buses avoided Lord Street or High Street in the town centre and taxi drivers abandoned their vehicles on double yellow lines on Lees Road, adding to the chaos.

From Oldham, drivers reported taking well ovr an hour to reach Ashton, 90 minutes to Rochdale — and up to three hours to do the 10 miles to Bury.

A frustrated motorist rang the Chronicle to say he was at Holts Estate trying en route to Moorside — and described the roads as being “like glass.”

He added: “I was in a queue of traffic backed up to Ashton. It was absolutely shocking — freezing as well.”

But it all went more quickly than it arrived: most main roads were passable late last night and rain had washed away much of the snow by this morning.

Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers said: “It should be mild and pretty dry for the next few days — but it will get colder towards the back end of next week... with more snow possible next weekend.”