WILTSHIRE Police are urging residents to stay at home today (Friday, March 2), and only make journeys that are absolutely necessary.

Call handlers received numerous calls overnight regarding blocked roads, jack-knifed lorries and abandoned vehicles following the heavy snowfall since yesterday afternoon.

The A303 and the A346 are some of the worst affected roads in the county. Officers are trying to reach drivers on the A303 with assistance from Wiltshire Council, while volunteers from the Red Cross have been assisting on the A346 by transporting drivers to the nearby service station and providing food, drink and blankets.

Wiltshire Police are updating our website throughout the day with live updates regarding road closures and are urging residents to keep an eye on the rolling news feed here: www.wiltshire.police.uk/article/649/Road-closures.

Superintendent Phil Staynings said: “We are doing all that we can to ensure the safety of residents in Wiltshire and as you can imagine, our officers and call handlers, are currently extremely busy.

“We are urging residents to only leave home if absolutely necessary and if you are heading out, please make sure you leave plenty of time, take necessary supplies and always let someone know where you are going and how long you expect to be.

“With these severe weather conditions, it’s also really important to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours to make sure they are ok.

“Keep up to date with our social media and website for road closures throughout the day.”

Call 101 to report any information or call 999 in an emergency.

Currently, the below roads are affected:

A345 Old Sarum - Amesbury closed

A4361 Wroughton - Avebury vehicle abandoned in snow.

A346 Beckhampton closed.

A number of vehicles currently stuck on the A345 near High Post. This includes several jack knifed lorries. - Longhead Road to Highpost is closed

A303 Willoughby Edge service station area road is blocked.

The Royal Wootton Bassett Brinkworth Road has a Jack knifed articulated vehicle in the road - please avoid the area.

A HGV has jack knifed on the M4 between junction 15 to Membury Services.

The A346 Chisledon - Marlborough. Road blocked and we are trying to clear the road and transport stranded drivers to the service station.

A4361 Wroughton to Avebury is impassable.

The A338 at East Grafton is currently unpassable - snow has been blown onto the road from surrounding fields during the night

A lorry is currently jack knifed on the A342 at Ludgershall, just past Shaw Hill. The road is blocked

The Alton Barnes area between Pewsey and Devizes is currently blocked due to abandoned vehicles.