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Cumbria drivers warned as freezing rain causes 97 crashes
Drivers have been warned to take extra care on the roads
Emergency services in Cumbria have dealt with 97 crashes in less than six hours caused by freezing rain.
The A66 trans-Pennine route was closed after a number of lorries jackknifed near Stainmore and there has been a large number of crashes on the M6.
The A66 also saw a multi-vehicle accident near Penrith. So far there have been no serious injuries reported.
Police have urged drivers not to take to the roads unless journey are "absolutely necessary."
Some schools have also been closed as a precaution.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said all the collisions were reported between 05:00 GMT and 11:00 GMT.
He said: "All of the county's roads have been affected by ice and we are warning people to take care.
Snaphot of ice accidents
- At 04:56 GMT a lorry jackknifed near the Stainmore Cafe, Kirkby Stephen, the driver was not injured and the road was cleared at 06:15
- At 06:48 at Haile, Egremont, a Seat Altea driven by a woman from Egremont and a Ford Focus driven by a man from Whitehaven were involved in a collision, no one was injured
- At 07:05 on the A684 Kendal, multiple cars skidded off the road, no serious injuries
- At 08:05 on the A66 near Penrith multiple cars were involved in a collision. No-one was seriously injured
"If your journey is not essential, then please do not drive. If you do have to travel, please take extreme care when driving, slow down and keep a substantial braking distance from the car in front.
"The eastbound A66 from Stainmore remains closed, the M6 between junction 36 and 38 is only passable with care and a 20mph speed limit has been issued.
"The A590 is passable with extreme care, but there have been wagons which have jackknifed at Lindale Hill, which is blocking traffic."
Health officials said accident and emergency staff at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle were working hard to deal with numerous victims of road accidents who had suffered non life-threatening injuries.
Derek Cartwright, director of emergency services for the North West Ambulance Service, said: "We have already experienced a higher number of road traffic collisions than normal in Cumbria and we are urging the public to take extra care whilst out on the roads.
"We need older people and those who have long-term conditions to make sure they keep taking their medication and have sufficient supplies so that they don't need to go out for more during the cold spell.
BBC weather's Nick Miller explains what causes freezing rain
"I would urge people to be good neighbours and make sure the people they live near, especially ones who are older or suffering from serious illness, are safe and well this winter."
A spokesman for Cumbria County Council described road conditions as "challenging" and said extra gritting shifts had been ordered.
He said: "This has turned into a sort of perfect storm of bad weather.
"We have got very low ground temperatures with rain falling on top of that as a band of warm air has come in.
"This has lulled people into a false sense of security because the ground looks wet when in fact it is frozen.
"Our gritting crews did a full run last night and are running at full capacity today to do what we can to counter the hazardous conditions.
"We are expecting these conditions to last for about the next 24 hours."
Parish councils are being offered additional supplies of grit in an effort to keep rural access routes open.
'Milder air'Some bus services have also been affected, including the Fellrunner service from Langwathby to Penrith, which has been cancelled.
BBC weatherman Paul Mooney said rain was falling on to frozen roads and immediately creating sheet ice.
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Mr Mooney said: "We have fairly hazardous morning roads and pavements.
"This is all because the temperatures have dropped to sub-zero again overnight and what has happened is that over the last few hours a band of cloud has brought slightly milder air and with it rain.
"So when that rain and drizzle hits those freezing roads and pavements it just freezes instantly and creates sheet ice.
"It might just look like a damp road or pavement but it's really ice and very, very dangerous."
The Met Office had earlier issued a severe weather warning of ice for the region.
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