MOTORISTS are urged to take extra care on roads in the Romsey and Stockbridge areas as snow continues to fall across the district.

Around two inches (5cms) of snow already covers central-southern England and more is forecast today by the Met Office.

There have already been a number of road accidents in Hampshire and south Wiltshire.

Hampshire County Council say the following roads in the Romsey area are passable with care, the A3090 between Romsey and Ower and the A27 between Romsey and Whiteparish.

Many roads are slippery and traffic slow-moving on the M27 in the Cadnam, Ower and Nursling areas because of poor driving conditions with moderate snow falling.

It is a similar picture right across the Test Valley region and in south Wiltshire lorries are unable to negotiate Pepperbox Hill at Whiteparish because of snow and ice.

Wiltshire Police described the A36 between Salisbury and Southampton as “very icy” with a two vehicle accident reported at the junction of New Road and the A36 at Landford around 7am. Officers say the male driver of one vehicle was taken to Salisbury District Hospital. His injuries are not thought to be serious, say the police. A car and lorry were also involved in an accident further along the A36 towards Salisbury. There were also a number of reports of accidents in the New Forest area with the A35 blocked at Emery Down near Lyndhurst because of a jack-knifed lorry involved in a multi-vehicle accident before 6.30am. And a broken down lorry at Junction 3 on the M27 is causing problems for drivers. Gritters and snowploughs have been working around the clock in a bid to keep Hampshire’s roads clear of snow and ice. Test Valley Council’s staff have been clearing snow from pavements in Romsey town centre. Some schools across the area are shut today because of the bad weather.

Update: Snow depth in Romsey at 12.30pm was 9cms or 3 ½ ins.