Drivers should clear snow from roads themselves, says minister

People should clear their own roads of ice and snow, the Transport Secretary said today.

Philip Hammond said councils had to make choices about which roads to grit, but could provide salt to allow the public to clear residential streets.

"People have always dug their way out of their own driveways," he added. "And I would encourage people who are able to do that kind of thing to continue doing it for themselves and for neighbours who are perhaps less able to."

Mr Hammond said the Government had put together a "common sense" code of practice which, if followed, should protect the public from legal action as a result of attempting to clear snow.

London is set to see more snow next week as the big freeze continues to tighten its grip on Britain.

Forecasters say temperatures in the capital would rise to 9C over the weekend, but the beginning of next week will see the return of harsh weather, possibly with snow, ice and freezing fog.

Tony Conlan of MeteoGroup said: "From Tuesday on, temperatures are going to get really cold again. There is the potential for snow in London, and it will be a return to the bitingly cold temperatures we've endured this week."

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond admitted his government had been "caught out" after drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles yesterday.

Since the first widespread snow on November 24, the AA said it has dealt with more than 230,000 breakdowns - a 93 per cent increase on the same period last year.