The thaw has begun - but cold weather will continue

AS Suffolk started to struggle back to normal today, weathermen warned the bitter cold is to continue for several days yet.

Richard Cornwell

AS Suffolk started to struggle back to normal today, the weathermen warned the bitter cold is to continue for several days yet.

A widespread frost is expected tonight and temperatures - which have only climbed to about 2C in most places - will fall suddenly by late afternoon.

This morning's rush-hour - or slush-hour, as some drivers in towns are calling it - didn't see any major problems despite there being more traffic on the roads than for several days.

With Felixstowe port now 85pc up and running, there are also more lorries on the main roads.

The A12 and A14 were well gritted with both lanes open.

Untreated country roads and side-streets in towns were still treacherous, many of them compacted snow and ice.

However, there has been rain and sleet in many parts of the county during the morning and this could add to the problems on the roads later when it freezes.

Weather forecasters say the thaw will be slow, and there could even be more snow in west Suffolk on Wednesday.

A police spokeswoman urged drivers to be extra cautious as some roads would be deceptively slippery.

“We would urge people to adjust their driving to the conditions - use dipped headlights, reduce speed and increase your stopping distance,” she said.

“Please exercise patience with other drivers if they are going slower than usual and don't take any unnecessary risks.”

Almost all the county's schools were open today compared with last week when more than 250 were forced to close.

Only Woodbridge Primary, Causton Junior, Felixstowe, Barrow Primary, Elveden Primary, and the Guildhall Feoffment Primary, Bury St Edmunds, were shut and all are hoping to be open tomorrow.