TEMPERATURES are set to rise tomorrow, bringing an end to the latest cold spell.

Residents in Dorset and the New Forest woke up to a fresh blanket of snow yesterday morning as winter once again dug its heels in.

Bournemouth Airport was closed once again this morning. It reopened shortly after 10am.

"The airport has implemented its snow plan and has personnel on standby for clearing operations as required," a spokesperson said.

An Easyjet flight from Geneva, which was scheduled to land at 11.50am, was delayed until 12.05pm.

Departures to Krakow at 10.55am and Geneva at 12.20pm were not affected.

Some schools in Dorset are also closed 

 

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice, which is in force until around 10am.

Despite being more than half way through March, children were building snowmen and adults were facing up to more weather-related disruption at the weekend.

Bournemouth Airport was closed for most of the morning due to safety concerns with travellers urged to contact individual airlines for information.

Several snow inspections took place before it reopened just after 11.30am. Afternoon flights to Geneva, Malaga, Lanzarote and Malta were largely unaffected.

On the roads there were delays and some buses had to be re-routed to ensure they were travelling on roads which had been gritted.

Morebus said its 40, X3, X6 and X8 services were the only ones affected.

At the time of going to press it was not known if any schools in the area would be closed today.

A number of South West Trains services were also cancelled. They included one service from Weymouth to Waterloo and two services between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier.

Moors Valley country park was closed during the morning due to concerns about the safety of motorists on its approach roads and fears that the trails, mainly used by children were too slippery.

Cafes in Poole Park were also closed to customers.

Bitterly cold temperatures were reported across the country with the Met Office warning that some areas could see up to 25cm of snow.

Gritting lorries and snow ploughs were out in force with Highways England urging drivers to take care until all the snow had melted.

Residents were also urged to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours to see if they needed any help during the cold spell.

March has seen significant snowfall across Dorset and the New Forest but forecasters are predicting we have seen the last of the white stuff for this winter.

Any lying snow should have melted by tomorrow when temperatures are set to reach 9C.

And all forms of travel should return to normal.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “After a frosty start, it should be dry and fine on Tuesday with lighter winds.

It will turning more unsettled thereafter with spells of rain and strengthening winds, although with temperatures recovering closer to average.

Recent days have seen the mercury fall to around minus 2C.

Though cold, it was not as bad as earlier this month when the Beast from the East brought temperatures down to minus 6C in Dorset.