SNOW and ice caused traffic chaos throughout Lancashire this morning.

Motorway traffic was reduced to a standstill while scores of schools throughout the area have been shut for the day.

Highways bosses reported “severe delays” on the M66 and A56.

Drivers at junction two northbound between the M66 and A56 faced holdups of 50 minutes, and half hour delays were reported on the A56 southbound at the junction with the A680 and A6177.

Heavy traffic was also reported on the eastbound M65 between junctions two and eight.

And there were traffic jams on the A59 between the Whalley roundabout and Samlesbury and on the A666 from Whalley.

Forecasters say the snow is likely to die off in the afternoon but Highways Agency bosses have warned drivers to take care, particularly on smaller roads that have not yet been gritted.

Meanwhile, rail services through Blackburn were delayed by up to an hour because of a signalling problem.

Northern Rail said the problem was expected to be cleared up by 10am.

Confirmed school closures so far: Northern Primary School, Bacup Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Sarneyford Primary, Bacup Norcliff School, Great Harwood St James Lane Head Primary School, Burnley Primet High School, Colne Ridgewood Community High, Burnley (closed for children, staff should come in if it's safe) Gisburn Primary School Roughlee C of E Primary, Nelson St James the Less, Rawtenstall Balladen School, Rawtenstall St Saviours, Bacup Rose Special School, Burnley Briercliffe Primary School, Burnley Barrowford School Park High School, Colne St John The Baptist, Burnley (both sites) Castercliffe School, Nelson Hendon Brook Short Stay School, Nelson Waterfoot Primary, Rossendale Fearns Sports College, Stacksteads White Ash Special School, Oswaldtwistle Alder Grange, Rawtenstall (hoping to open at 11am) West Craven High Technology College, Barnoldswick Pendle Vale College, Nelson Pendle Community High School and College, Nelson View School, Haslingden Brennands Endowed Primary School, Slaidburn Turton High School, Turton Green Howarth Primary, near Accrington Tor View School, Haslingden Green Howarth Primary, near Accrington Fishermore School, Colne Mount Carmel School, Accrington Barnoldswick C of E Primary St Josephs, Stacksteads Marsden Heights Community College St Thomas' C of E Primary School, Barrowford West End Primary School, Oswaldtwistle Sacred Heart RC Primary, Colne St Mary's CE, Newchurch, Pendle Lancashire Education Medical Service, Burnley Hendon Brook Short Stay School, Nelson St Pauls Primary School, Nelson St Pauls Constable Lee, Rawtenstall (opening at 11am) Thorneyholme RC School, Dunsop Bridge St Annes Edgeside, Waterfoot St Pauls, Hoddlesden St John the Baptist, Padiham Newchurch St Nicholas Primary, Newchurch, Rossendale

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