LIVE: Snow hits Sussex (From The Argus)

4:01pm

University of Sussex protesters went ahead with their rally today.

Here they are marching through the Falmer Campus in protest against the privatisation of university jobs.

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Lewes FC v Margate is off tonight.

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Some 100,000 Brighton Fringe programmes were delivered today. The team have been working overtime to get them out. There will be in bars, restaurants, shops and pubs throughout the city in the next few days.

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9:31pm

That's it from us for today.

The Met Office has warned that it will continue to snow until well after tomorrow's rush hour.

You can expect up to 10cm of the white stuff when you wake up, so give yourself plenty of extra time to travel.

Stay safe and check the live blog from 7am tomorrow for updates.

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Nor sure if it is snow related but the 20.58 London Bridge to Brighton has been cancelled

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The A259 is also still very slow - as it has been all afternoon.

8:50pm

Traffic is still heavy on the A23 with travel time some 45 minutes.

8:49pm

We're winding down the liveblog here tonight. 

We will be back with all the latest travel news in Sussex from 7am.

8:14pm

From Twitter: SouthernRailUK ‏@SouthernRailUK

CLEARED: Delays in the Gatwick Airport area. Trains are now running normally through the Gatwick area following a person having ... #fb

8:12pm

A27 West Sussex - A27 Shoreham By-Pass in Shoreham-By-Sea closed eastbound between the A283 Steyning Road junction and the A270 Upper Shoreham Road junction, because of a serious accident and an obstruction on the road.

7:58pm

Drivers in Littlehampton, Angmering and Goring are reporting standstill traffic after a series of accidents.

The advice at the moment is to only make a car journey if absolutely necessary.

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Traffic has ground to an absolute standstill on Marine Parade in Brighton, writes Argus reader Tim Fletcher.

I'm looking out of my window and a bus outside travelling from town towards the Marina has moved about 30 yards in an hour.

Traffic is solid all the way back as far as you can see beyond the pier. It's been like this for over an hour.

No idea what's happened, can't just be the snow?

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7:10pm

A bus is blocking the junction of Ditching Road and Upper Lewes Road in Brighton

7:05pm

We hear a bus is stuck by the Grenadier in Hangleton.

7:05pm

Reports coming in from a driver on the A23. It has taken an hour to travel from Pease Pottage to Crawley.

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7:02pm

Reports coming in of an accident on the slip road onto the A27 westbound at Hollingbury

7:01pm

A27 Shoreham By-Pass eastbound closed due to obstruction on the road and a serious accident between Coombes Road / Old Shoreham Road (Sussex Pad Traffic Lights) and A270 Upper Shoreham Road.

The emergency services confirm the road has now been closed due to a separate accident in the same location as the earlier obstruction

7:00pm

Valley Road, Portslade is blocked due to a vehicle losing traction due to icy conditions on the road near Chalky Road.

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A27 Westbound closed, queueing traffic due to accident, two vehicles involved at A270 Lewes Road, Brighton.

Reports the road has been blocked whilst the emergency services attend to two vehicles, one of which was reportedly on fire.

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6:26pm

One lane blocked due to obstruction on the road on A27 Shoreham By-Pass eastbound at Coombes Road / Old Shoreham Road (Sussex Pad traffic lights).

Reports a lorry has got stuck due to loss of traction in icy conditions

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Wilson Avenue, Brighton is blocked northbound.

Traffic is queueing between B2118 Roedean Road / Marina Way and Warren Road.

Reports of a lorry is obstructing the road after losing traction in icy conditions.

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A caller into The Argus office reports icy conditions in Tivoli Crescent and Woodside Avenue, with cars slipping sideways down the road.

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Brighton and Hove Buses has announced a number of changes to its service this evening.

21 – not serving Manor Hill.

50 – not serving Hollingdean loop but terminating at Hollingbury Park Avenue

5 & 5A – serving Hangleton on the 5B route

49 – not serving Moulscoombe, terminating at The Avenue

46 – not serving north Southwick

25 – no bendy buses operating

5:26pm

5:25pm

The A283 at Fittleworth is closed both ways due to a fallen tree at B2138 Lower Street.

4:59pm

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council confirmed that gritters would be out at 8pm tonight and at 2am tomorrow mornig

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4:35pm

Sussex Police have released the following statement:

Police are warning motorists to drive carefully as the weather deteriorates into the evening.

In East Sussex the snow is falling heavily and three roads are closed. The area around Warren Hill, Beachy Head Road and Upper Dukes Drive is closed. The A259 between Eastbourne and Friston is open and passable with care but is likely to deteriorate overnight.

Fairlight Road and Battery Hill near Fairlight is also closed.

Over on West Sussex the A29 at Bury (Bury Hill) is also closed.

Sergeant Dan Pitcher from the Road Policing Unit in Polegate said: "Please drive carefully in the snowy conditions and remember your journey could take longer than you anticipate. Allow more time to stop in the snowy and slippery conditions."

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3:22pm

Argus photographer Terry Applin saw this gritter on the streets of Hangleton

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3:00pm

There continue to be heavy delays on the Brighton to Victoria line after a person was hit by a train shortly before midday.

A Southern Rail spokesman has sent the following statement:

"At approximately 11.50, the 11.19 Brighton to Victoria service struck a person between Horley and Gatwick Airport. 

"This closed all four lines in the area and as a result, we were unable to run between east Croydon and Gatwick Airport. Delays of up to 90 minutes were experienced while we arranged for replacement buses ran between Redhill , Three Bridges and Haywards Heath.

"All lines are now open but there will still be disruption as trains and crews are out of place, so there will be short notice alterations, some cancellations and delays of up to 40 minutes as the service recovers.

"We hope to be back to normal running by approximately 4pm."

2:54pm

The A259 has been closed between East Dean and Eastbourne because of conditions

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Argus photographer Sam Stephenson has made this video:

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12:19pm

Update from East Sussex County Council on school closures today.

Confirmed partly closed today
•Dudley Infant School, Hastings partly closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
Parents are invited to collect children to ease travel in adverse weather.

•Elphinstone Community School, Hastings partly closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
We will be closing early at 1:00pm to allow safe travel from school for children and staff. Please collect your children at 1:00pm. Please check for further updates regarding Tuesday 12 opening. Thank you.

•Icklesham Church of England Primary School partly closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
School Closing from 12:30pm as roads very dangerous.

Confirmed closed today
•New Horizons School, St Leonards-on-sea closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/id/school/8457035/closure/24080
•Saxon Mount School, St Leonards-on-sea closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
School will be closed from 1pm today.

•St Leonards Church of England Primary School, St Leonards-on-Sea closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
Due to adverse weather and conditions of local roads the school will close at 1.30p.m.

•St Paul's Church Of England Primary School, St Leonards-on-Sea closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
We will be closing from 1.15pm today

•Torfield School, Hastings closed, Emergency closure - adverse weather: Monday 11 March 2013
Both sites from 12.30pm

12:18pm

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12:07pm

Brighton and Hove buses have just announced that their supervisors have checked the A259 and it is not currently safe for buses to use due to drifting snow.

This means that until further notice services from Denton Corner to/from Eastbourne will divert via the A26 & A27.

There is a shuttle service operating between Denton Corner and Seaford, also Southern Trains will continue to accept customers with valid bus tickets until further notice between Brighton/Lewes/Newhaven/Seaford and Eastbourne.

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If you have been affected by the snow or have any pictures, send details to neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk or ring 01273 544530.

11:27am

West Sussex County Council have announced that Colgate primary near Horsham is closing at noon due to the weather - parents being advised

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Update from Gatwick: The airport itself is not being affected by snow at the moment as snow isn't settling. Anti-icing and snow clearing vehicles have been clearing the runway since last night but this has not been disrupting flights. Disruptions wirth flights to and from Channel Islands because of level of snow at those airports.

10:31am

For slightly longer term, the Met Office say the county is not due for any more snow this week after today. They say it is to early to say whether we will have a white Easter, which has been reported by some forecasting services, but that we should expect lower than average temperatures over the next fortnight.

10:28am

Latest from Met Office: Sussex will see snow showers throughout the day with up to 5cm in places. The snow will then move south from about midnight. Tomorrow will be generally dry and bright but only 4C so likely snow will stick around in the morning.

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9:51am

The A259 has reopened.

Brighton and Hove Buses annouce delays to services.

9:24am

COUNCIL UPDATE - BRIGHTON AND HOVE

"Our gritters were out last night and over the weekend treating the roads with salt in preparation for any snowfall or ice.

"We will continue to monitor conditions and additional treatments on our gritting routes will be undertaken if needed.

"We have also pre-salted pavements in the city centre, around the hospitals, along London Road and Lewes Road."

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ROADS - SUSSEX POLICE WARNING

Sussex Police has just issued the folllowing statement:

Police across Sussex are warning drivers to make allowances for the return of the wintry weather as road policing units have been called to a number of crashes caused by the snowy conditions.

A police spokesman said: "There's not a great deal of snow falling at the moment, but the temperature is hovering at or just below freezing and the roads are slippery in places. Some drivers are just not making allowances for the conditions.

"In icy conditions it will take a lot longer to bring your vehicle to a stop.

"Allow greater stopping distances between you and the vehicle in front - at least ten times the normal distance - and keep your speed appropriate to the conditions.

"Keep your driving smooth, avoid sudden turning, braking or acceleration. Areas under trees, in shadow and on bridges tend to remain colder for longer so beware that there may still be ice patches even if the rest of the road is clear.

"Before setting off drivers should make sure that mirrors and all windows and lights are clear from ice, frost or condensation. On cold mornings it is all too easy to jump in your car and drive off, but it is important that you have a good view of the road all around you from the start.

"Spring may be just around the corner, but while it may be warm and cosy inside your car, it's cold, icy and potentially very hazardous outside it. Please think!"

8:25am

ROADS

The latest on the A259 disruption is now online. See the link about how a female driver walked away uninjured after her car rolled this morning in Friston, near Eastbourne.

8:22am

AIRPORT 

Gatwick reporting no major disruptions to its service. For more details visit www.gatwickairport.com/flights/

8:01am

TRAINS

According to Network Rail, poor rail conditions are causing disruption in the Havant and Pulborough areas and signalling problems are causing disruption in the Portsmouth Harbour area.

This means there are currently no trains from Barnham to Horsham via Pulborough.

Journeys from Horsham to Barnham may be delayed by up to 25 minutes.

Buses are running from Barnham to Horsham on the hour and at 30 minutes past the hour.

Buses are also running between Horsham and Barnham on the hour and at 30 minutes past the hour.

Journey times are likely to be extended by up to 60 minutes.

7:56am

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Latest update shows there are no schools closed across Sussex.

7:54am

TRAVEL

West Sussex Fire and Rescue has said its crews are currently at the A286 in Cocking, near Midhurst. There are reports of a road traffic incident involving a car and a van.

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LATEST FORECAST

James Wilby, forecaster for Meteogroup, said: "One band of snow will move in from the south west spreading east along the coast and southern regions to Kent and moving as far north as the M4 corridor.

"There will be a build up of up to 4cms most areas, and up to 10cms in the worst hit - London will also see a few cms in some places.

"This snow will continue overnight and begin easing on Tuesday morning, and will be accompanied with strong gusts of wind."

"There will be a pattern of snow falling and the sun coming out to melt it, before more snow falls and is melted again.

"But in all areas the snow will sporadic, areas only ten miles apart will see big differences from heavy snow fall to no snow fall."

7:49am

Sussex has woken to a small sprinkling of snow this morning - with forecasters expecting it to get worse.

Significant snowfall is expected to cause disruption throughout today and tomorrow as the possibility of a white Easter looms.

The southern counties of England are expected to take the brunt of heavy repeated snow showers moving in from the south west.

Up to 10cms (3.9 inches) will settle in the worst affected areas, including Sussex and southern Hampshire, while large areas could see around up to 4cm accumulate.