HEAVY overnight snow in parts of Comet country has brought more chaos on the roads and to rail services today (Thursday). Rail service from London to Peterborough were still seriously affected after overhead cables were brought down yesterday near Hitchin

HEAVY overnight snow in parts of Comet country has brought more chaos on the roads and to rail services today (Thursday).

Rail service from London to Peterborough were still seriously affected after overhead cables were brought down yesterday near Hitchin by a train leaving over 200 passengers a short walk from the train to Hitchin station.

Also all bus services in Bedfordshire have been suspended because of the snow.

In Stevenage local bus services by Arriva did not start until 10am. It said roads were too dangerous because of ice and snow. No services are planned for Hitchin and Letchworth GC because of traffic gridlock.

Drivers faced treacherous conditions as up to five inches of snow fell in some areas. The A505 between Hitchin and Luton has been brought to a standstill by vehicles blocking the road in the deep snow and the B197 is closed before the junction of the A6141 westbound on the Baldock by-pass.

Gary Sanderson, spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "The snow has fallen heavily again and we are asking the public to think twice about calling for an ambulance. If you need advice but don't have a serious or life threatening emergency, remember other options are available to you such as calling NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or contacting your local GP or pharmacist."

He added: "Our service would like to reassure the public that a normal 999 service is in operation, and we have a number of 4x4 vehicles on standby across the region to assist as needed. However, we would ask people to help by only dialling 999 if absolutely necessary."

As a result of the continuing severe weather conditions, Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) has suspended its refuse collections, and Stevenage Museum is closed.

All other SBC services are expected to be operating normally.

Hundreds of school children were given their third day off this week because of the weather.

The schools confirmed as closed in Comet country today (Thursday) are:

Fairfield Park Lower, Stotfold

Roecroft Lower, Stotfold

Samuel Whitbread Community College, Clifton

Henlow Middle

Etonbury Middle, Arlesey

Arlesey Nursery

Aston St Mary

Barnwell, Stevenage

Bedwell, Stevenage

Benington

Broom Barns, Stevenage

Camps Hill, Stevenage

Fearnhill, Letchworth GC

Heathcote, Stevenage

Highbury Infant and Nursery, Hitchin

Highfield, Letchworth GC

Highover, Hitchin

Hitchin Boy's

Hitchin Girls

Icknield Infant and Nursery, Letchworth GC

Kimpton

Lannock Primary, Letchworth GC

Letchmore, Stevenage

Little Wymondley

Lodge Farm, Stevenage

Marriots, Stevenage

Martins Wood, Stevenage

Northfields, Letchworth GC

Peartree Spring Infant, Stevenage

Samuel Lucas, Hitchin

St Andrew's, Hitchin

St Ippolyts

St Mary's, Baldock

St. Thomas Moore, Letchworth GC

Valley School, Stevenage

Westbury, Letchworth GC

Weston

William Ransom, Hitchin

Woolenwick Infant, Stevenage

Woolenwick Junior, Stevenage

Wymondley JMI

Wymondly