POLICE are urging "extreme caution" on all roads and pavements due to snow and ice.

Sergeant Gary Heaton of Douglas Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Following consultation with the Department of Infrastructure, police officers stationed around the Island and the airport Met Office, there has been widespread severe frost overnight freezing very hard everywhere, with sub-zero temperatures down to between minus 4 and minus 9 Celsius in places.

"Salt and grit becomes less effective at -5C and virtually ineffective below -7C.

"Essentially all roads and pavements will be hazardous and extreme caution is advised for both pedestrians and motorists.

"There is also a risk of a few hail or snow showers the highest risk being in the West and South of the Island.

"I would also reiterate that only necessary journeys should be undertaken and extra care is needed on side roads.

"Finally I should add that all the emergency services are working jointly with the Met Office, Department of Infrastructure and local authorities to get things back to normal as soon as possible."

Roads most affected: 

Douglas main roads are passable with care. The Peel Road however is particularly bad leading into Douglas after Quarterbridge with ice patches and fresh snow.
 

The Old Castletown Road particularly where fresh snow has fallen around the Quay.
 

Most roads in the North are now passable with care but there are ice patches which are frequent and possibly treacherous. 

In Peel and the west of the Island the roads are quite slushy and there is a risk that the roads on the higher ground will have frozen, this is the same for the south of the Island and roads there are passable with care.