PICTURES AND LIVE UPDATES: Snow hits parts of Devon with 'blizzard-like conditions'

Parts of Devon have been covered in a blanket of snow today, leaving many of the region's major and minor roads closed or partially blocked.

Snow began falling during the early hours, as predicted by the Met Office, and Devon & Cornwall police reported blizzard-like conditions, with difficult driving conditions in many places in Devon.

A police spokesperson took to Twitter at 3:45am saying: "It's blizzard like conditions in places now and snow ploughs have been deployed on Haldon and Telegraph Hill."

Devon County Council's gritting trucks were covering the roads network all night and this morning but it wasn't enough to prevent major routes becoming blocked or dangerous as further snow fell.

At 3:45am Tavistock began to see heavy snow fall and in the north of Plymouth areas such as Woolwell, Roborough, Bickleigh, Glenholt were covered in a few centimeters of snow.

The dangerous conditions were reportedly worst at Haldon Hill and Telegraph Hill and in Okehampton, and between Tavistock and Princetown.

In Woolwell and northern parts of Plymouth light snow continue to fall until 10:30am. The weather turning slightly warmer and clear around mid-morning.

Police continued to warn drivers saying: "Advice is to only take necessary journeys and if you must travel do it with care and allow extra time.

"Snow conditions are worst at Haldon and Telegraph Hill, Okehampton, and roads between Tavistock and Princetown and Bude - avoid if possible."

There were poor conditions reported at Yelverton roundabout with the Burrator Inn road closed due to snow drifts.

Sections of the A38 around South Brent, Ashurton, Ivybridge and Plympton at Deep Lane saw some snow settle causing slippery dangerous driving conditions.

At accident involving a lorry closed one lane on A30 eastbound between Okehampton Services in Okehampton and Whiddon Down.

Drivers were able to use Devon major carriageways but at a reduced speed of around 20mph.

Plymouth Citybus also took to Twitter to report some problems with services and a tree down in Miller Way, near to the science Park.

Their service 45 was unable to access the park and ride site at Ivybridge and buses terminated at the bottom of Cole Lane in the town.

The Service 50 was unable to serve Keswick Crescent due to very slippery conditions at Derriford roundabout.

First Bus services say they are reviewing their operations through Cole Lane and Langham Levels in Ivybridge, as well as monitoring the situation along Torquay Sea Front.

This morning a section of the A303 at Upottery was closed eastbound between the A30 junction and Southfields roundabout in Donyatt because of a serious accident.

Devon County Council reported gritters working up and down the A39 and A361 during the early hours with tractors with ploughs out in Okehampton clearing snow.

However, lorries were stacked up at Bolham on the A361 after a lorry jack-knifed on the hill.

Metcombe Lane at Tipton St John to West Hill was closed due to a fallen tree which partially blocked the road.

The A35 was closed in both directions between the A35 King's Road junction in Honiton and the B3165 Scott's Lane junction in Charmouth because of snow and a jackknifed lorry.

Also on the A361 on the North Devon Link Road at Rackenford the road was closed in both directions at the Rifton Lane junction because of snow and a jackknifed lorry.

And in Ilfracombe the A361 was closed and the driving conditions were described as hazardous in both directions at Mullacott Cross roundabout.

The M5 at Exeter was also said to be difficult to drive on with slippery conditions between junction 30 and 26 at Wellington.

On the A375 at Sidmouth Road in Honiton the road was blocked between Tesco and the Roundball Lane junction because of snow.

The Met Office's yellow and amber warnings of snow are still in place for this afternoon and police have warned of the possibility of ice forming tonight.

A police spokesman said: "With the snowy conditions now easing we still have a lot of slush on the roads. There is the potential for this to freeze tonight causing dangerous driving conditions.

"We would like to remind drivers to take extra care, allow more time for your journey and drive carefully allowing good space between you and the vehicle in front."

Devon County Council has revealed a list of schools in Devon will not be open todayFor a full list of school closures click here

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Do you have pictures of snow in Devon? Email them to jbayley@northcliffedigital.co.uk and we'll add them to the slideshow above.

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