Motorists are facing traffic chaos today after the Fylde coast was covered in heavy snow. Schools closed and public transport was delayed after snow fell over the Fylde and beyond. Blackpool Airport was snowed in and eventually closed.Around 100 passengers were left waiting for hours in the departure lounge after their Jet2.com flight to Alicante was cancelled. First TransPennine Express services between Blackpool North and Preston may be delayed because of signalling problems caused by poor weather conditions at Kirkham. Lancashire Police have closed Carr Lane in Kirkham after vehicles struggled to climb the hill. Fleetwood Road roundabout, Wesham, and Treales Road, Treales have also been closed. Sub-zero conditions have led to a number of accidents across the Fylde. A driver was taken to hospital after crashing into a hedge at Weeton Road in Singleton. He was involved in a two-car collison involving a Fiat Bravo and a Citreon Zsara just after 8.30am this morning. In Kirkham town centre a coach was stuck on the ice for more than an hour until local residents managed to push it to safety. In Newton, a car was stuck on New Hay Lane and a car smashed into stationary vehicles on Fordway Avenue in Layton. The Fylde's motorway, the M55, is down to one lane in both directions and highways police are warning drivers only to travel if necessary.

Drivers on the M6 faced more than 12 miles of tail-backs from Junction 26 at Leyland with motorists also facing delays at Junction 32 and the sliproad leading to the M55.

The M65 is down to one lane in both directions and there are major delays around the Bamber Bridge area of Preston at the Sainsbury's roundabout. Snow has built up on two lanes of the M55 but as yet there are no reported accidents

Source: Blackpool Gazette