Last update: 10.30pm (Wednesday)

Roads on higher ground which were due to reopen this evening (Wednesday) remained closed due to the continuing trecherous conditions, although Minorca Hill in Laxey, from Ramsey Road to Glen Road, and Albert Street in Douglas, from Bucks Road to Mount Havelock, were back in full use.

Old Laxey Hill, from New Road to Glen Road, and the Sloc Road, from Ballakillowey to Ballamodha, which were expected to reopen, will be reassessed at 6.20 tomorrow evening, when the Lhergy Cripperty Road, from Cronk Road to the St Mark's Road, should have traffic on it again. 

No decision has been taken on when the Mountain Road, from Cronk ny Mona to Ramsey Hairpin, will be back in use and Mona Drive in Douglas was closed to traffic this evening.

Several other roads are not due to reopen until 1pm on Friday.

They are the A14 Tholt-e-Will Road, from Tholt-e-Will Cottage to the Mountain Road; the Druidale Road from Brandywell Cottage to Ballaugh Glen Road; the Injebreck Road, from Brandywell Cottage to Ard Whallin; and the Brandywell Road, from Brandywell Cottage to the Mountain Road.

The Department of Transport is continuing to work hard to return all the Island's roads to normal.

Tuesday morning's snowfall wasn't expected and DoT officials said although they had prepared the roads for icy conditions, they weren't ready for what came down.

DoT director of works Geoff Robinson said the focus had shifted to sorting things out so the schools could reopen, and it was confirmed this evening that students would all be returning to their classes tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

The Department of Tourism and Leisure said 'last buses' would be operating from Douglas today, from 6pm. The services running were the 25S from 6pm; services 1, 3, 5 and 5A from 6.10pm, and service 26S from 6.15pm.

In addition a special service, numbered 21S, was running every 30 minutes from 3.15pm to 6.15pm, serving the normal 21 route, with the exception of Hazel and Heather Crescents.

Information regarding buses from earlier in the day, as provided by the DTL:

Service 1 and 2 will run from Douglas to Port St Mary, and service 3 buses, between Douglas and Ramsey via Laxey, will operate as normal.

The number 5, which normally runs from Douglas to Ramsey via Peel, will only operate from the Lord Street bus station to Noble's Hospital.

Number 5A will travel from Douglas to Ramsey via Peel and St John's, but not through Strang and The Hope.

The 25S and 26S, which run around Douglas and Onchan, will also operate.

All patient services at Noble's Hospital were back to normal today, after widespread disruption caused by the snow yesterday.

Patients were advised to turn up for their appointments, unless told otherwise.

However tonight's blood donor session at Noble's was cancelled.

Community Health called off the Family Planning Clinics scheduled for this evening and tomorrow (Thursday) evening. They will resume on Friday.

The Chair Based Exercise sessions in Peel, Onchan and Port Erin, scheduled for today, tomorrow and Friday, have been also cancelled.

In the north of the Island, full services have still not been restored at Ramsey and District Cottage Hopsital.

All minor operations and out-patient clinics today were cancelled, with the exception of the dietetic clinic.

Patients with queries were advised to ring the hospital on 811811.

All Social Services offices were operating normally today, but non-urgent visits to people may have been restricted.

The ambulance service was still having difficulty reaching remote parts of the Island and areas still covered in thick snow. Members of the public were asked to call 999 only in real emergencies.

Isle of Man Post said as far as possible it would run a normal service today.

It was thought postal workers might not be able to reach some areas, but postmen and women were said to be keen to get out on their rounds. Both deliveries and collections were as normal wherever possible.

Courses and events at the DHSS Education and Training centre at Keyll Darree were cancelled.

Meanwhile, police are telling motorists there is more need than ever to drive responsibly, and to avoid travelling unless it is absolutely necessary.

Officers say conditions on some minor roads and housing estates are still difficult and will remain so, and pedestrians are being advised to take care on all pavements, which have been treacherous.

There is also a reminder that it is illegal to travel on closed roads, and anyone doing so risks thousands of pounds in fines.

Isle of Man Creameries says most residential doorstep delivery customers received their milk this morning, although drivers were unable to deliver to areas where the roads were closed or hazardous. Deliveries were made to most stores on the Island, including Shoprite, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, the Co-op and Spa.

The Creameries' tankers had problems collecting milk again this morning. Collections were made from most farms, but with 'significant difficulty' due to the treacherous conditions.

The Eastern Civic Amenity Centre was open today, having been closed yesterday.