(Coventry) Gritters out after snow showers

[dutchman]

Heavy snow showers have cancelled out the work of the gritting lorries, a council has said.

Coventry City Council's lorries were out during the night gritting the A roads and are still out gritting roads where snow has fallen.

The Met Office has issued a warning of icy roads and police are advising people only to travel if necessary.

The British Red Cross is helping the ambulance service by sending out volunteers in 4x4 vehicles.

A spokesman said in one case volunteers fought their way through treacherous conditions to reach a 91-year-old woman in an isolated Warwickshire village.

Volunteers and staff have clocked up more than 60 hours supporting West Midlands Ambulance Service and responding to 999 calls, the spokesman added.

"Ice rink"

Councillor Hazel Noonan of Coventry City Council, said it started to snow at 0500 GMT. The gritters went back out at 0600 GMT and will remain out for the time being.

In Warwickshire, the roads and pavements were described as an "ice rink".

Councillor Alan Cockburn said they seemed to have less snow than elsewhere.

"But it thaws ever so slightly and then freezes hard again and its like an ice rink," he said.