Britain’s salt supplies reached dangerously low levels today forcing the Highways Agency to stop gritting motorway hard shoulders in an attempt to eke out the dwindling stock, as Transport Secretary Lord Adonis ordered councils to cut grit spreading by 25%, The Times reports.
The move could allow ice and snow to build up in the safe havens along the country’s main road arteries this weekend when forecasters are predicting widespread and heavy snow flurries.
Lord Adonis said …

Busy M11 motorway had to be closed after a herd of pigs escaped and ran on the carriageway, Sky News reports.
The southbound M11 towards London was shut after a HGV carrying a consignment of 82 pigs crashed.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene of the collision at Junction 8 near Stansted Airport to discover about 12 animals had escaped from the lorry and were running free on the road.
A spokesman said that at 5.21am, …

Police have closed 25 miles of the M5 in Somerset after a car hit an electricity pole, The Independent reports.
The motorway is closed between junctions 22 and 16 after the crash brought down power cables at around 4.20am on Friday.
The Highways Agency said the closure was expected to remain in place for some time. Diversions have been set up and motorists are being urged to avoid the area.

A man has been arrested for the murder 13 years ago of the hospital worker Melanie Hall, whose bones were found dumped beside a motorway this week, The Times reports.
Greater Manchester Police said that a 37-year-old man had presented himself at Cheadle Heath police station in the early hours of yesterday morning. “He was arrested on suspicion of murder on behalf of Avon and Somerset Police and remains in custody,” the force said.
Miss Hall, who was …