Liverpool John Lennon closes as snow hits north west

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has closed runways as snow and ice causes travel disruption across the North West.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (January 07), bosses said "safety is our uppermost priority", and said the airport was expected to reopen at around 10:00GMT.

Temperatures plummeted well below freezing on Monday night (January 06), causing roads to freeze over.

Merseyrail is warning of delays on the Ormskirk & Hunts Cross Line, and the Ellesmere Port Line, due to fallen trees.

Flooding is also causing problems on the Chester Line, between Hooton and Capenhurst.

A number of flood alerts and warnings remained in place on Tuesday (January 07), mainly around Warrington and Chester.

The Met Office has a yellow weather warning for ice and snow in place until 0900GMT.

In the Commons, environment minister Emma Hardy told MPs flooding was "a personal priority" for her, adding that the Environment Agency was particularly concerned about Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire.

Warning of further "localised" flooding to come over the next 24 to 36 hours, she pledged to overhaul the Government's approach to funding flood defences "to ensure the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are taken into account when delivering flood protection".

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