Hampshire police issue warnings to drivers tackling icy conditions

In total, 3,161 calls have been received by the force's call centres between midnight and 11am.

Of those calls, 357 were to the emergency 999 number.

During that 11 hour period 163 road traffic collisions were reported. Although some people have been injured, no serious injuries have occurred.

In the same period last Monday morning, call handlers took 2,153 calls, of which just 19 road traffic collisions were reported.

No other significant incidents have been reported, and so far, motorists have been heeding advice and driving slowly and carefully on the motorways and major A roads.

In Southampton, a total of 36 collisions were reported, the most in any of the force's operational command units (OCU).

The Central OCU had 33 collsions in the Winchester, Havant, Fareham and Gosport areas, 25 in the Western OCU covering Eastleigh, the New Forest, Romsey and Andover. Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, and North and East Hampshire and had a total of 40 accidents.

On the major roads, including the motorways plus the A27, A34 and A3(M) there were another 29 collisions.

However, police chiefs are asking members of the public to help them by not swamping telephone lines into the control room with unnecessary calls.

Call handlers have this morning received hundreds of calls to their emergency lines from people reporting ice on their roads. Hampshire County Council Highways are continuing to grit all strategic routes throughout today, and are deploying snow-ploughs, with the priority being the main roads.

Icy and treacherous roads and related issues can be reported to the Hants Direct hotline on 0845 6035 638. For all other issues requiring police response, please call 0845 045 45 45, or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Motorists are advised that further snow is forecast for this afternoon with icy conditions anticipated this evening. Police are urging drivers to keep journeys to an absolute minimum, drive with caution and keep warm.