SNOW TIME

HEAVY snow brought chaos to the roads, delays to public transport, long waits for ambulances and forced schools to close across Greater Manchester yesterday.

- JAMES HOLT

Football games were halted, tram lines cracked, bus services were delayed and cars were crashing due to the snowfall, which fell throughout the morning due to an 'Arctic blast' that brought with it plummeting temperatures to the northwest and rest of the UK.

An urgent amber Cold Weather Alert was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warning that the impacts of the sub-zero temperatures were likely to put the ‘whole population at risk, with health services also predicted to be affected.

This was felt in Greater Manchester, as the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) announced that 999 services were 'really busy' due to the wintry conditions, with delays to ambulances also expected.

NWAS warned that amid the snow and icy conditions, it could take longer for paramedics to reach people and that the 'most seriously ill or injured patients' would continue to be prioritised.

The ambulance service also urged patients outside in the cold to be 'moved into a warmer environment' if it was 'safe to do so.

As predicted by the Met Office forecasters, snow began to move over the region in the early hours of yesterday. Many then woke up to a blanket of snow outside their homes.