MOTORISTS are urged to take extra care while driving with more wintery weather forecast, as ice and snow wreaked on Exmouth s roads havoc causing a number of accidents. A red Ford Fiesta turned on its side on the A376 near Morven Drive at around 9am yeste

MOTORISTS are urged to take extra care while driving with more wintery weather forecast, as ice and snow wreaked on Exmouth's roads havoc causing a number of accidents.

A red Ford Fiesta turned on its side on the A376 near Morven Drive at around 9am yesterday, January 6. The male driver was temporarily unable to get out of the vehicle.

Once out of the car, the man was cared for by paramedics.

A recovery vehicle was called due to the Fiesta being stuck against a wall. Sergeant Phil Godfrey, of Exmouth police, said the recovery vehicle also got stuck as a result of the conditions.

Sgt Godfrey, issuing advice to motorists, said: "People have got to drive as per of the conditions, with great care. I would ask motorists not to make any non-essential trips out while the weather continues.

"If you do have to travel, I would advise people to be extra careful on minor roads - ones that may not be gritted."

A blue Ford Focus overturned in Wotton Lane, Lympstone, on January 6. The male driver managed to clamber out of the car. The highway's department closed the road afterwards.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "A lot of people have been heeding warnings not to travel unless absolutely essential, but motorists must take extreme care if they are driving.

"Rest assured our teams are doing everything they can to keep roads as clear as possible. "They have worked overnight and will continue to work flat out to keep Devon moving."

Chris Cranston, Devon County Council's highway operations Manager, said: "I would like to pay tribute to sterling overnight work that Devon county Council and SWH staff and gritter drivers have done.

"As a result, the majority of the A-road network is passable with extreme care, but travel will continue to be difficult on the remainder of the network and ice is expected to become a real problem generally."

Snow, which started to fall on Tuesday, January 5, caused disruption not just to drivers, but schools and business.

Exmouth Community College, Newton Poppleford Primary and Topsham School, all closed yesterday, January 6.