Spate of crashes on region’s roads due to icy conditions

The silver Kia 4X4 Sportage car which skidded on ice and left the A149 between Thorpe Market and the junction with the A140. Picture: ALEX HURRELL (Image: Archant)

Despite warnings from police about the frost and ice on many of the county's roads, many motorists were caught out.

A silver Kia 4x4 Sportage hit ice on the A149 between Thorpe Market and the junction with the A140 at Northrepps, in north Norfolk, and landed on its side in a field. A police spokesman said no-one was injured.

And another car left the A149 and ended up in a different field further along the road, close to a bend between Thorpe Market and North Walsham.

The road remained treacherous at 8.30am when the temperature was -3C.

Other crashes occurred at Norwich Road in Cawston, on the A1064 in Billockby and on the A143 at Haddiscoe.

There was also a crash on the A47 at Witton, while firefighters from Holt and Sheringham helped at the scene of a collision on the A148 crossroads at Sharrington.

Meanwhile, a single car was involved in a crash in Bloodmoor Road, Lowestoft.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from the Lowestoft South station to the scene at 7.57am. A spokesman for the service said it was a single vehicle road traffic collision and the crews assisted the driver to safety. The incident was under control at 8.07am.

Police warned drivers later in the day to take care as freezing fog hit the region. Motorists were urged to drive to the conditions and leave extra time and space between vehicles.

A Norfolk police spokesman said that drivers should take precautions in bad weather conditions and ensure that journeys were safe by following some simple advice.

This includes taking a fully-charged mobile telephone on your journey.

The forecast for today is getting warmer with a high temperature of 7C and a low of 6C.

However, forecasters have also warned that the frosts will be returning later in the week.