Cumbria battling snow and ice - with more on the way

And the Met Office is predicting the cold spell will continue into next week.

Temperatures in Keswick dropped to -10.4 last night while it reached -10.1 degrees in Carlisle.

The forecast for Cumbria today is for temperatures to struggle to get above freezing and snowfall of up to 10cm (4inches).

Alan Goodman, the Met Office regional advisor for the North West, said: "Last night saw a widespread severe frost. Needless to say today will be another very cold day with maximum temperatures inland either at or below freezing.

"On the coast they should eventually get a little above freezing, especially Morecambe Bay and Cumbria.

"From late morning onwards patchy sleet/snow (all snow inland) will reach Cumbria and spread erratically southeastwards across the region during the course of the afternoon and evening.

"Amounts of precipitation could vary considerably so allow for anything between 0 and, say 5 to 6cm (higher amounts over the higher ground inland), with perhaps as much as 10 or more centimetres over the Cumbrian Fells.

"Hopefully with ground surfaces so cold it will stay as snow but I can't guarantee this and some sleet or even rain may occur, especially towards the coast.

"This could produce some very icy conditions later today.

Rural communities are already struggling to cope as snow and ice created hazardous conditions on minor roads.

Residents in some remote areas have found it difficult to get out and about unless they own a 4x4 vehicle.

And businesses have also been counting the cost with one coach firm forced to cancel tours.

Cumbria County Council said it had been working around the clock with a team of 30 gritters, to help keep the county moving and open for business.

This week the council also put formal measures in place to supply parish councils with salt and grit if required so extra gritting could be carried out by local communities.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron said: “The gritting has been significantly better than last year which is great news and within minutes of the first hint of bad weather the county council were out gritting to make sure roads were clear.

“There are 250 extra grit bins in the region since last year too.”

However, Windermere Taxis co-owner Sarah Ibbetson said the firm was handling a flood of calls from elderly residents who were afraid to risk walking on the ice.

The firm has relied on a mini-bus with Landrover tyres and snow chains to help transport people across the county.

Helen Morley, of Mountain Goat Coach Tours, said: “We have cancelled all our tours across the county this week, but hope to have some running by Friday.”

Coniston businessman Philip Johnston has been working until midnight daily using his own JCB tractor and snow plough to keep the village roads clear.

Robert Kite, who runs Mill Yard Cafe in Morland in the Eden Valley, said he felt the village had been forgotten about by the local council, adding: “We would really like a bit more help.

"I’ve seen cars and people sliding down the hill in the village and a lot of people are stuck.”

On Saturday the Kendal Mountain Rescue team was called out to help an ambulance struggling in ice.

It was unable to reach an elderly man who was unconscious after a fall at his home in Underbarrow.

The team transported the patient to the ambulance.

Christie Tomlinson, who works at Hallgarth Post Office shop, said the pavements on Kendal’s Hallgarth estate had not been gritted.

“You do have to be careful on the estates and I think the roads are quite dangerous to drive on, but everybody is managing,” she said.

Motorists are being advised to plan extra time for their journeys, to take extra care on the roads and to allow for the current conditions.

Pedestrians should also take extra care, wear clothing that makes them visible to motorists and, where the weather is particularly bad, only venture out when necessary.

The cold weather has seen dozens of schools shut at various times over the past week due to snowfall across South Lakeland.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service bosses are warning people to stay off frozen lakes, rivers or ponds.

Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison said: “I would advise people not to put themselves and others in danger by going onto frozen bodies of water such as ponds and lakes.

“There are many potential dangers associated with a frozen body of water.

"Although it may appear to be robust and strong, there can be little or no support and the ice can give way with no warning.

“The hazards are drowning, asphyxia and hypothermia.

"If the ice gives way then it can trap you, and when the weather is like this hypothermia sets in very, very quickly.

“I’d also urge parents to know where their children are when they are out and about in the cold weather and to never leave youngsters unsupervised near frozen ponds, rivers and lakes.

“Our message is simple - stay off any frozen body of water for your own safety."

Dog walkers are also asked to keep their dogs on leads near frozen water if there is a risk of them venturing onto the ice and getting into trouble.

The Met Office is warning that the freezing temperatures and snowfall will continue over the next week.

Mr Goodman said: "Tomorrow - a slightly milder, albeit a mostly grey, dismal day with extensive low cloud, temperatures creeping up to between 1 and 4 Celsius, highest on the coast. So some thawing of lying snow/ice but a slow process.

"Walking conditions on untreated pavements could be particularly unpleasant where snow turns icy or where rain/sleet has fallen onto old snow.

"There may be further patchy mostly light rain/sleet at low levels with any snow mostly above say 300 metres.

"All this should clear away in the evening with the cloud breaking to give another widespread frost on Saturday night with any wet surfaces freezing to give further ice problems into Sunday morning.

"Sunday itself should be a much better day weatherwise, dry and bright with some sunshine but still very cold with daytime temperatures reaching typically between 1 and 3 Celsius.

"And into next week with the air coming down from a mainly northerly point the ongoing cold spell looks set to continue on.

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