Snow update: Gritters out again across Hull and East Yorkshire as motorists look to avoid repeat of chaos

Fears of a repeat of Monday's rush hour traffic chaos looked largely unfounded this evening despite more snow falling over Hull and East Yorkshire.

As the Met Office forecast snow showers would continue into the early evening, both Hull and East Riding councils stressed their gritter fleets were continuing to operate around the clock.

But at 5.30pm tonight, motorists were reporting quiet roads in Hull and bus firms said the majority of services were running as normal.

One Twitter user, @RebeccaAnnMarie, said "Never seen suce a quiet rush hour in Hull. Just goes to show what problems congestion cause.

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Some rural routes remain treacherous however. EYMS said it was diverting buses to avoid Swanland Hill and Bishop Wilton and reported severe black ice around Ottringham, Hessle and Ferriby.

John Skidmore, head of streetscene services at ERYC, said it had treated the equivalent of 10,000km of highway over the past few days.

Its 17-strong gritter fleet was out again this afternoon, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -8C.

Mr Skidmore said: "Salt stocks remain healthy at our depots and orders are in place to replenish these, when required.

"Streetscene staff have been diverted onto snow clearing duties, with the council's priority being to keep the main pedestrian precincts open."

Drivers were urged to stick to main routes wherever possible and to allow extra time for journeys.

Little snow is expected after 6pm tonight and the Met Office said Wednesday and Thursday would be largely dry - although it will remain bitterly cold.

But more snow is forecast for Friday and Saturday.

John Lee, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "This afternoon we have got some fairly heavy snow showers running down the North Sea coast and eastern areas are seeing some fairly heavy snowfalls.

"Going into tonight those snow showers down the east of the country are going to become more isolated.

"Many areas will be dry tonight. With the light winds and low temperatures there is also potential for freezing fog.

"Tomorrow we will have dry and sunny spells.

"There are signs that it will turn more unsettled into Thursday and Friday with increased wind and Atlantic weather systems pushing in.

"If that happens we could see some fairly heavy snowfalls."

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