Rough sleeping plan implemented after widespread snow

Following widespread snow across Oxfordshire, a local authority has announced it will guarantee rough sleepers short-term accommodation during the icy weather.

Oxford City Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) alongside homelessness charity St Mungo's.

The order began on Tuesday and will run until Friday, after which point it will be reviewed daily.

It comes as several schools had been forced to shut on Tuesday, after snow fell across parts of the county.

St Mungo's said that it's outreach teams had increased the number of routine shifts across Oxford, and would ensure that everybody on the streets is offered a safe and warm space to stay.

Ellie Alway-Thomas, service manager at St Mungo’s, said: "These low temperatures can kill people who are street homeless and it is absolutely right this is treated as an emergency."

"We will continue to work tirelessly around the clock to ensure that people are brought into the safe and warm," she added.

Sub-zero conditions are forecast overnight in Oxford until Friday, according to BBC Weather.

Snow started falling at about 07:00 GMT as temperatures plunged on Tuesday morning.

The wintry conditions led to a number of schools in Banbury closing, including Cherry Fields Primary, Longford Park Primary and The Grange Community Primary.

The schools said they had made the decision given the hazardous conditions for staff and pupils at the schools and surrounding roads.

Snow and ice has affected several areas across the UK, with the wintry mix due to continue to edge southwards.

Our BBC Weather Watchers from across the county have been sending pictures of the snowy scenes.

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