Cambridge residents woke up on Friday morning to multiple travel and service disruptions as a result of up to 15 cm of snow that had blanketed the city and surrounding regions overnight.

The snowfall, which began on Thursday evening and lasted through much of the night, has caused major disarray on the roads. Compacted snow and ice made for dangerous driving conditions, especially in the morning when some roads were still untreated. Buses coming into Cambridge from London and other areas were delayed by as much as half an hour, as drivers were exercising caution. Rail service was also interrupted.

The snow also caused Friday’s scheduled waste and litter collection services to be suspended. Further interruption of collection services is expected on Monday. Several parts of the car park at the Grafton shopping centre were also closed down. Although major roads and bridges had been cleared by mid-afternoon, many cycleways and footpaths remained ungritted, leading to icy walking conditions.

In other parts of Cambridgeshire, conditions were much worse. Homes in several villages outside of Cambridge were left in the dark on Thursday night after snow damaged power cables and cut off electricity. Repairs could not be made until Friday afternoon.

Despite the widespread disruptions caused by the snow, many were taking the opportunity to enjoy the winter weather. Children, who got an extra day of vacation after schools were closed, were seen building snowmen and playing in the snow. Many were also relishing the possibility of a White Christmas. Although it is uncertain whether the snow will stay on the ground until Christmas Day, snow showers are on the forecast for the weekend and early next week. Temperatures are expected to remain below zero.