A "perfect storm" of freezing rain falling on icy roads has caused chaos on the roads. The treacherous conditions led to a string of accidents as forecasters warned that more snow was on the way, with some areas of the UK facing up to three inches (8cm). Nearly 100 road accidents were reported across Cumbria as police warned motorists to take extra care. Six vehicles collided in freezing conditions on the Felling bypass in Gateshead, Tyneside, and drivers were trapped after a crash in Gateshead at the junction of the A194 and the A1 southbound. A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: "A 'perfect storm' of rain falling on freezing ground has caused extremely hazardous road conditions in Cumbria this morning. Conditions are expected to remain hazardous for at least the next 24 hours and drivers are being urged to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary." Meanwhile, snow is set to fall this afternoon in the East Midlands, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, with forecasters predicting as much as 8cm locally. It is expected to reach East Anglia, Essex and London as the afternoon moves into the evening, with up to two inches (2cm-5cm) expected to lie on the ground. Sally Webb, forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There will be no snow in Cornwall and most of western Wales. The north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland won't get any either. It will be drier and milder but quite drizzly in the North but areas such as Lincolnshire will have quite a lot of snow." Miss Webb added that in Cumbria, where the high number of accidents took place, the air temperature was between 2C (36F) and 5C (41F) but the ground temperature was below freezing. Northumbria Police warned drivers across the North East that rain had fallen on freezing roads, making black ice. Police said a "multiple-vehicle collision" in Gateshead left several people trapped in their vehicles, but there were no reports of serious injuries. A man who fell after being knocked over a barrier as cars collided in the ice was in a stable condition in hospital, police said. | 
