Bristol City Council says it is doing all it can to maintain services as the big freeze caused the big shutdown across the city today, after up to 10cm of snow fell overnight.

Travel to and from, and within, the city was severely disrupted all day – with the forecast predicting sub-zero temperatures for the next five days and more snow at the weekend.

More than 150 schools were shut and thousands of people were forced to work from home or take an extra day off.

With the weather outlook looking grim, council leader Barbara Janke said most schools would reopen tomorrow but that drivers and pedestrians needed to take great care if they venture out.

“I can reassure residents that every effort is being made to ensure that critical services are maintained following the heavy overnight snow fall,” she said.

“Essential services to our elderly and vulnerable service users are a priority – take Meals on Wheels where 13 drivers were delivering this lunchtime, some in 4×4 vehicles. I would urge anyone who is worried about the elderly or vulnerable to contact Care Direct on 0117 9222700.

“Gritting and snow ploughing was undertaken throughout the night on all main roads and bus routes. Gritting will continue tonight but we do expect icy conditions, so we advise that if motorists need to travel, that they do so with extreme care. The icy conditions will mean that pavements are expected to be treacherous so pedestrians should also be very careful.

“Most schools in the city have been forced to close but a few infant and primary schools have been able to stay open. We are hopeful that most schools should be able to open tomorrow, but parents should check the usual sources for up-to-date information.”

Flights from Bristol International Airport (BIA) were suspended this morning, with BIA bosses reopening the runway – covered by 5cm of snow – at 2pm.

Passengers are being warned to expect delays and cancellation, and are being urged to check with their airlines before travelling to the airport.

Most First bus services were suspended across Bristol, Somerset and the Avon area.

While some routes were opened during the day, a spokesman for First Bus said passengers are advised to check the First Bus website for details of how their routes may be affected tomorrow morning.

Services now running:

• Service 1 – Limited service between Broomhill & Cribbs Causeway but not operating via Crow Lane
• Service 5 – Limited service between Centre & Eastgate Centre
• Service 6 – Limited service between Kingswood & Centre but not operating via Holly Hill Road
• Service 7 – Limited service between New Cheltenham (Made For Ever PH) & Centre
• Service 8 – Limited service between Blackboy Hill, Whiteladies Road (Not Clifton) & Temple Gate (Isambard Kingdom Brunel PH)
• Service 20 – Limited service between Rookery Farm & Centre via Broad Walk & Wells Road due to closure of Redcatch Road.
• Service 24/25 – Limited service Between Stottbury Road (Muller Road Depot) & Ashton
• Service 40/41 – Combined limited service operating via Centre, Whiteladies Road, Parry’s Lane, Shirehampton Road & Lawrence Weston Lay-by. Note, Service 41 also operating as far as Cadbury Heath Road
• Service 43 – Limited service normal route
• Service 45 – Limited service normal route
• Service 48 – Limited service normal route to Sainsburys except not operating via Blackhorse Lane.
• Service 49 – Limited service: normal route to Staple Hill then via Broad Street, Mangotsfield Road, St James Street, Richmond Road then normal route.
• Service 51 – Limited service but not serving Windways Estate
• Service 52 – Limited service normal route but not via Imperial Park
• Service 54 – Limited service normal route (not serving The Coots)
• Service 70 – Limited service normal route
• Service 73 – Limited service normal route, main roads only (not calling at Parkway Station or Sainsbury’s but travelling along, and stopping on adjacent roads)
• Service 75 – Limited service normal route
• Service 76 – Limited service between Hartcliffe & Knole Lane (Unable to turn in Crow Lane terminus or use Parson Street bus lane)
• Service 90 – Limited service normal route but not via Imperial Park
• Service 330/331 – Normal route
• Service 342 – Limited service, main roads only
• Service 349 – Normal route

None of Bristol’s park and ride services were operating and Wessex Connect services were cancelled.

On the trains, the Bristol-Severn Beach line was shut, with no replacement bus service, while a number of mainline services to London Paddington from Temple Meads were cancelled.

Passengers are being advised to call a special number set up by National Rail Enquiries to find out about trains: 08453 017641. The website crashed earlier today under the weight of visitors trying to access up-to-date information.

Meanwhile, on the roads, a number of accidents put greater strain on the network in and out of the city.

Police across Avon and Somerset received more than 100 calls during the day – with seven incidents in Bristol, two of which involved minor injuries to drivers.

Accidents included those this morning on the A370, A39 and Blackberry Hill, while the Highways Agency and police are urging  people not to venture out of their cars unless absolutely necessary.

Grit supplies for bins dotted around the city are running out, with most side roads and pavements being left untreated – making it virtually impossible in some places to drive, and hazardous at best to walk or cycle.

The latest information from the city council shows that 161 nursery, primary and secondary schools, as well as academies and special schools, were shut for the day and there was no home-to-school transport running to the remainder all day.

The University of the West of England, meanwhile, confirmed it had closed all of its campuses.

Currently, all GP surgeries, pharmacies and dental surgeries in Bristol are open.

Liam Williams, associate director of commissioning for NHS Bristol, said: “Due to the poor weather we appreciate some patients may be concerned about getting treatment. Currently, all GP surgeries are open but if you have concerns, please contact them in advance before leaving the house.”

While the accident and emergency department at Frenchay Hospital remains open, Mr Williams urged people to avoid using A&E departments for minor injuries and ailments.

Despite the treacherous road conditions, ambulance crews have been able to reach all 999 calls made. Chief Executive of Great Western Ambulance Service David Whiting said: “I cannot praise our staff highly enough. The crews out on the road, control room and support staff have all shown true dedication by getting themselves safely to work and continuing to provide an excellent service to the public during this difficult period.”

With Bristol getting to grips with the wintry weather, the Met Office issued an emergency weather warning for the entire country as parts of Britain prepared for some of the heaviest snowfall in almost 50 years.

More snow is expected to fall in the South East and temperatures are expected to plummet tonight to about -6°C in Bristol, and lower in rural areas.

The forecast snow could be the biggest single fall since the notorious winter of 1962-63.

A Met Office spokesman said it had issued a so-called “flash warning” because of the substantial quantity of snow that was expected to fall in a short period of time.

“This kind of warning is very rare. It’s the level of alert we put out for the floods in the summer of 2007,” the spokesman said.

Forecasters said that there would be little respite over the next week as freezing temperatures continue to grip Britain, with the country was experiencing the longest cold snap since 1981.

A change in wind direction has caused the prolonged freezing spell, it said.

Britain’s prevailing winds usually bring weather from the west, but for the past few weeks the wind has blown from the north and east, bringing Arctic weather.

Meanwhile, business groups estimate that the absenteeism from the snow could cost up to £2billion with the Federation of Small Businesses estimating that about 10% of the workforce nationwide unable to get to work on Tuesday.

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