Drivers bear brunt of snow surprise

Very light snow showers had been forecast, but the area received a covering an inch thick.

Luton Airport’s runway had to be closed for a time while snow was cleared, leading to delays and cancellations and advice to travellers to check with their airlines before travelling.

Minor prangs and abandoned vehicles caused major traffic delays on routes around Luton and Dunstable.

A bus that got stuck on Crawley Green Road in Luton just after 6am caused long queues, as did traffic light failure at the junction of High Street North and Church Street in Dunstable.

Cars stuck at the junction of Hitchin Road and Stockingstone Road led to problems, and motorists using the A6 suffered lengthy hold-ups around Barton.

There were minor collisions in Trinity Road, Stockwood Crescent and Dallow Road in Luton, and in Kingsbury Avenue and Spoondell in Dunstable.

Weather forecaster Philip Eden said: “We had about an inch of snow over Luton and Dunstable. It was associated with a southward-moving trough of low pressure.

“Snow showers were in the forecast, but they were expected to be very light with just a dusting on the ground. In the event we got rather more than was forecast.”