MOTORISTS have faced a 'difficult journey' into work, while schools across Lowestoft have been closed, or will close earlier today, (Friday), as the town bears the brunt of the overnight wintry blast.

The snow and ice has caused havoc on the roads locally, with a jackknifed lorry on the A146 Norwich Road at Gillingham causing delays for vehicles as the road was partially blocked.

There were also problems with police called out at 7.17am this morning to the A146 at the New Road junction in Barnby, where traffic was 'slow' due to hazardous driving conditions - and there were delays as a 'lorry was unable to go up the hill,' according to police.

Elsewhere there was very slow traffic on the A146 at Loddon between the High Bungay Road junction and the Vale Road junction because of an accident involving a van which has gone into the ditch.

Opportunist theives have not been deterred by the weather as they struck in a Lowestoft street this morning.

'Just before 7.05am there was a theft from motor vehicle incident reported, as an Ipod was stolen,' police spokesman Anne-Marie Breach said. 'The car owner very briefly left his vehicle to go and defrost the car, which was parked in Wollaston Road, but when he returned the Ipod had gone.'

There were further traffic problems reported in Leisure Way, Lowestoft causing chaos on the roads after a bus slid into a parked vehicle at 8.43am. 'The bus slid in the icy conditions and hit the Vauxhall Astra car, but no-one was hurt,' Ms Breach said,

Cars were also reported as getting stuck on the ice at 8.58am this morning, causing problems 'halfway along Cotmer Road as it goes into Conrad Road' in Lowestoft.

Traffic was also stuck at Katwijk Way and St Peters Street, while there were also problems on one of the major routes into town at Tom Crisp Way.

'The Highways team are aware we are having all sorts of problems in Lowestoft,' Ms Breach added.

'There has been gridlocked traffic throughout Lowestoft at various stages this morning and most people will have had a difficult journey today.'

Forecasters are predicting not much better - as temperatures are unlikely to rise about -1 degrees today.

The freezing conditions will continue into the weekend, with snow forecast for both Saturday and Sunday.

The current list of school closures is as follows:

Benjamin Britten High School is open, but they will close at 1pm today; St Margaret's Primary School will also close at 1pm today while St Mary's RCP School is to close at 2pm as is Elm Tree Primary School.

Elsewhere, Woods Loke Primary School, the Warren School, Kirkley Community High School and the Ashley School have all been closed for the day.