Beast from the East: Sheffield gritting teams urge people not to drive

Darren Butt, Streets Ahead account director at Amey, said all of its fleet were out treating primary routs across Sheffield and had all been fitted with snowploughs.

He said: "If we can get the snow to stop we will grit the secondary routes. The city roads are passable but there are very difficult driving conditions on the rest of the network so we would urge people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

"The forecast is for the snow to continue for the rest of the day. We're hoping it will be snow showers but they could be heavy at times."

Mr Butt said Amey staff were also gritting main pedestrian routes in the city centre and its fleet of vehicles will be out on Sheffield's roads throughout the day and overnight.