DRIVERS are still being advised to avoid travelling today and tonight as snow continues to disrupt the road network.

Large parts are passable and improving but minor roads particularly on high ground will remain impassable.

Disruption is expected throughout today and into tomorrow.

Devon County Council contractors are using gritters, ploughs and snow blowers to clear the highway.

Major routes are now largely passable with care.

Other areas harder hit include higher ground on Exmoor and Dartmoor, where some communities on the minor roads are cut off and are likely to remain so until resources can be diverted to them.

Travel on the moors and minor road network is expected to remain difficult into tomorrow.

Road temperatures are slowly rising but not enough for there to be a thaw and a frost is forecast tonight.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for highway management said: ‘Our advice is to avoid travel today and tonight if you can.

‘If you must travel, please do so with extreme care and expect longer journey times and disruption.

‘Many of the major roads are passable with care, but a lot of the minor roads in Devon this morning are impassable and will remain so until we are able to divert resources from the priority road network.

‘Road temperatures, while rising a little today, will drop again tonight which may lead to icy conditions and black ice forming especially where snow has melted.

‘Driving conditions will be difficult again overnight and into tomorrow morning.’

The council is issuing other general advice.

Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures.

Never assume a road has been salted.

Showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming.

Allow additional time for journeys and reduce speed.

Drive with care and according to the conditions.

Keep an eye on vulnerable or elderly neighbours.

Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly for those who are not mobile, have long-term illness or are 65 or over.

Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions and make sure food and medication are stocked up.

Check out any school closures and sign up for alerts for any school by clicking on ‘Alert Me’.