THE severe weather front continues to grip Suffolk and north Essex today.

Gritters have been out in force overnight treating roads across the two counties to help keep motorists safe following the heavy snowfall over the past few days.

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said: “The county council’s highways team will be monitoring the levels of snowfall across the county over the next few days.

“Depending on the depth of snowfall we will mobilise a number of farmers from all over Suffolk to help clear snow in rural areas.”

Drivers are being advised to take care on the roads following a spate of minor accidents.

A car and a van crashed on the A12 at Martlesham yesterday just after 7am leaving one lane of the northbound carriageway between Main Road and Ipswich Road blocked. No-one was believed to be injured.

Officers were also called to the B1112 at Eriswell yesterday morning to reports of a car leaving the road and ending up on its roof.

The male driver was pulled out and paramedics tended to his minor injuries.

A woman suffered a chest injury after her car slid off the road on the A120 Business Park in Colchester just after 8.45pm on Sunday.

Gary Sanderson, of East of England Ambulance Service, said: “A woman who we believe to be in her 20s sustained a chest injury which was non-life threatening and following treatment by the ambulance crew, she was taken to Colchester General for further care.” Rail passengers also faced heavy disruption due to the snow and ice meaning that trains ran at reduced speeds.

Delays were also experienced on the Ipswich to Peterborough line via Ely due to a problem at a level crossing between Kennett and Ely. Services were not expected to resume until late last night.

Rubbish collection services in Mid Suffolk, Babergh and Waveney were suspended yesterday due to the adverse weather conditions while in Ipswich crews battled the snow to collect bins wherever possible.

Residents were advised to still put out their bins for collection as soon as the weather improves.

Council bosses in Ipswich also warned people not to walk across ponds as what could look like fun could turn into an accident as well as to take care on any untreated pavements or paths.

Meanwhile in Tendring, waste contractors Veolia, were out on their rounds from early morning to continue normal collections and the district’s public conveniences and council leisure sites remained open.

Staff who could not work were redeployed to help with snow clearing and gritting duties.

Jim Bacon, of Norwich-based Weatherquest, said yesterday’s temperatures crept up to 1C but soon plummeted back to below zero.

“The weather will remain cold for the rest of the week and there isn’t really any change until after the weekend.”

Temperatures will reach a maximum of 1C and minimum of -4C but will feel cooler with the wind chill.